
Ascension
2021

2019
Director
Tonje Hessen Schei
Runtime
99 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetSynopsis
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is possibly the most powerful technology of our time. It has the potential to solve humanity’s biggest challenges yet some fear AI will be our downfall. iHUMAN follows pioneers at the frontline of the race to develop the ever more sophisticated AI to find the questions we need to ask at this crucial point in history.
Overall Score
Fair
Category Breakdown
LGBTQ+ Representation
The documentary lacks explicit depictions of non-cisnormative identities. It maintains a neutral stance by focusing on macro-level technological implications rather than specific queer narratives.
Gender Representation
The film avoids traditional masculine leadership tropes by framing AI as a systemic force. It does not explicitly center feminist critiques but avoids reinforcing gendered hierarchies.
Racial & Ethnic Diversity
The film provides a sophisticated analysis of how algorithmic bias functions as a digital extension of systemic racism. It highlights how facial recognition technology disproportionately affects people of color.
Religious & Cultural Diversity
The narrative offers a robust critique of surveillance capitalism and Western institutional structures. It frames technological dominance as a threat to democratic norms and individual agency.
Disability Representation
There is no dedicated representation for individuals with physical or neurodivergent disabilities. The film touches on the digital divide but lacks specific agency for this group.
Strengths
Areas for Improvement
AI Analysis
iHuman succeeds as a systemic critique, particularly in its deconstruction of how artificial intelligence can exacerbate racial inequality. By examining the flaws in facial recognition, the film exposes how technological 'neutrality' often masks racialized surveillance. However, the documentary lacks depth regarding individual identities. It provides little to no representation for LGBTQ+ or disabled communities, focusing instead on broad structural implications rather than specific human experiences. While it avoids traditional gendered tropes, the film's focus remains largely on the relationship between humanity and machines. This results in a work that is intellectually rigorous regarding power structures but narrow in its demographic scope.

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