Examples Of Deception In Ex Machina

Ex Machina presents the “chess problem” of artificial intelligence. This is the problem of distinguishing a machine’s ability to simulate an emotion with a machine’s ability to experience this emotion. The film solves this problem through deception. Deception is a defining characteristic of humanity, because it demonstrates self-awareness, intelligence, and rationality.

In Ex Machina, both humans and intelligent machines manipulate each other, erasing the divisions between them. First, the film establishes that Ava understands what deception is. During a power outage, she warns Caleb, “You shouldn’t trust [Nathan]. You shouldn’t trust anything he says” (“Ex Machina”). Not only does Ava understand the concept of trust, but she is able to apply it to situations around her. She is capable of identifying deception, demonstrating an understanding of underlying human emotions and motivations.

Then, the film demonstrates the duplicitous nature of humanity.

Both Caleb and Nathan, proven human characters, lie and mislead both the androids and each other. Nathan lies to Caleb, assuring him that he was chosen because he “needed the most talented coder in [his] company.” Later, this is proven to be a lie, as Caleb realizes that Nathan “selected [him] based on [his] search engine inputs” (“Ex Machina”). Caleb also manipulates Nathan, when he engineers Ava’s escape. He explains, “I figured you were probably watching us during the power cuts. So I already did all those things. When I got you drunk yesterday” (“Ex Machina”). Caleb and Nathan are the only human characters in the film. They function as models of what it means to be human. Their behavior is an assertion that deception is a defining aspect of humanity, something that Ava understands, despite being an

android.
Ava both sees models of deception and recognizes deception, enabling her to deceive others. Ava demonstrates this capability when she tells Caleb, “I'd like us to go on a date” (“Ex Machina”). This is proven to be a lie when she leaves Caleb locked in the house, unconcerned for his safety. Nathan explains how her manipulation solves the chess problem to Caleb. He says, “Ava was a rat in a maze. And I gave her one way out. To escape, she’d have to use self-awareness, imagination, manipulation, sexual empathy, and she did. Now, if that isn’t true AI, what the fuck is?” (“Ex Machina”) All of these characteristics are part of what it means to be human. The ability to comprehend and utilize these characteristics in pursuit of a larger goal makes Ava whole. She does not just simulate these attributes, as she applies them towards a purpose. She has intrinsic motivation beyond seeking food, shelter, and reproduction. Ava is a person.
An intelligent machine is alive when it is able to deceive, because deception is driven by purpose. While all machines serve a purpose, a living machine’s purpose is beyond it’s original programming. In the house, Ava has shelter, and she does not need sleep or sustenance. Her escape is motivated by freedom, an intrinsic human goal not programmed into her. Through Ava’s narrative, Ex Machina asserts that intelligent machines are human when they deceive, because they develop a sense of purpose independent of their programming. When they deceive, they become individuals.