If you've seen any promotion for AMC's new science fiction series Humans (or if you live in the U.K.), you're probably at least somewhat familiar with the show's premise: it's about artificial intelligence, as well as what happens when that AI becomes sentient.
However, the series is about so much more than that and if you're not interested in watching yet, we've got reasons you should tune in to AMC on Sunday night when the first episode of Humans airs.
Humans covers a lot of ground and can, at times, even seem confusing, but here's a list of everything you need to know before that first episode airs this weekend.
Humans' Setting Is An Alternate Version Of Our Existing Timeline
Humans takes place in the same time that we're all familiar with, but in this particular present, science made great strides in artificial intelligence and synthetic beings are a part of daily life. In this world, the synthetics have taken on the more menial human tasks and jobs, much to the chagrin of some humans, who are now out of work because of that. Almost every household has a synthetic maid and nanny, and the service industry uses synthetics in dealing with the public. Synthetics are a natural way of life now, although humans are slowly becoming more paranoid about their existence.
This Alternate Version Of Our World Sees The Dawn Of The Singularity
The technological singularity is a theoretical event signifying when artificial intelligence becomes capable of improving itself and becomes sentient. This results in a runaway effect where the AI builds even better and more capable machines, far beyond anything a human could comprehend. This has become a hot topic in recent years, with some of the greatest minds of our times warning us about the rise of artificial intelligence, including Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk.
In Humans, the singularity has begun: robots are becoming sentient and capable of taking care of themselves. A small group of these synthetic beings have come together, but they're being hunted by someone with unknown nefarious plans for them.
The Show Is About Artificial Intelligence, But What It's Really About Is Humanity
The best stories about AI often look at what makes someone (or something) human. Does it revolve around the soul? Is it something else? Can it be mimicked by an artificial being? These are issues that Humans looks at and examines. Can a robot be more human than an actual human?
The Robots' Programming Includes Asimov's Three Laws Of Robotics
Science fiction author Isaac Asimov first introduced the three laws of robotics in 1942 in a short story called "Runaround." He used them again in his later works, including I, Robot. These laws are: a robot may not injure a human being or allow a human being to come to harm; a robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except when it conflicts with the first law; and a robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first and second laws.
It's likely that when we get artificial intelligence like that seen in Humans in our world, we'll also program them with these laws, too, as they're universal.
Series Was Originally Slated As A Partnership Between The U.K.'s Channel 4 And Xbox Entertainment Studios
This series nearly didn't get made because Microsoft, who originally partnered with Channel 4 for Humans, closed Xbox Entertainment Studios in 2014, but AMC picked up the slack and joined the production, starting filming on the series last fall. However, because of the Channel 4 partnership, the series started airing in the U.K. in May. Those in the U.S., though, get the first episode on June 28.
Swedish TV Series Serves As Basis For Humans
Humans finds its inspiration from a Swedish TV series called Real Humans. Its premise is nearly identical: it's set in a slightly futuristic version of our world where humanoid robots are everywhere. It follows the impact of this technology on two families, as well as a group of robots who have found free will.
However, AMC's Humans covers a larger group of people and the world is actually our present and not too different from what we now know, save for the addition of the humanoid robots.
Humans Features All-Star Cast
Nearly every face in Humans might seem familiar to those who watch a lot of British-based television. The series stars Merlin's Colin Morgan, as well as The IT Crowd's Katherine Parkinson, Mr. Selfridge's Tom Goodman-Hill and Secret Diary of a Call Girl's Gemma Chan. However, there's one American actor on the series, too: the Academy Award-winning William Hurt.
Marketing Campaign For Humans In London Was Creepy And Awesome
For the Humans' series premiere in the U.K., Channel 4 put up a fake shop for a company called Persona Synthetics on Regent Street in London. The shop enticed customers to create their own synthetics via interactive screens and then used Kinect to interact with those customers. Channel 4 also hired actors who walked around the city of London as cyborgs.
"The world of Humans is perhaps closer than we think," said James Walker, Channel 4's head of marketing. "This campaign seeks to engage viewers in a mischievous way with the questions the series raises about artificial intelligence; How will AI affect our relationship with technology and each other? Would you buy a Synth to be a part of your family?"
Humans Could Get A Second Season
If you're worried about getting into a new series, especially with how often most genre series get the ax, you're in luck: it's likely that Humans will soon get the greenlight for a second season.
"There are definitely still areas to be explored for a second series," said actress Chan to Den of Geek. "It's not completely tied up at the end."
Be sure to follow Tech Times on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
