The 2014 film “Her” depicts a reality that, unlike when it was released, is no longer just fiction given today’s technology. The movie, which explores the boundaries between emotion and technology, portrays the process of forming an emotional bond between humans and machines as the protagonist Theodore falls in love with Samantha, an AI operating system.

Samantha, the AI, recognizes and responds to human emotions. This is similar to how humans interact with each other and how the brain processes complex emotions. In reality, how far can AI recognize and respond to human emotions? This is an area currently being researched by scientists, exploring how computers can understand human emotions through the convergence of neuroscience and artificial intelligence. For example, studies include AI detecting mood changes through brain wave analysis or developing empathy skills by mimicking the action of neurotransmitters. The emotional exchange depicted in the film is no longer fantasy, opening up the possibility for technology to enter the world of human emotions.

Kazuo Ishiguro wrote the novel “Klara and the Sun” in 2021. Like “Her,” it’s a story about the relationship between AI and humans. However, it takes a slightly different approach. In the novel, Klara is a solar-powered AI robot that serves as an emotional friend and guardian for a young girl named Josie. While Klara tries to understand human emotions, her limitations are clear. This novel raises philosophical questions about whether AI can fully comprehend the complexity of human emotions and to what extent a true relationship between AI and humans is possible.

Both works question whether AI and humans can transcend a simple tool-like relationship. While “Her” suggests the possibility of Theodore and Samantha’s relationship developing into real love, “Klara and the Sun” takes a more skeptical view of whether AI can truly understand humans. Each story deeply explores how far emotional exchanges between AI and humans can go, and how the essence of humanity is challenged in the process. These are philosophical and emotional narratives that delve into these complex issues.