A video essay exploring the eerie parallels between three seminal AI films—A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), Her (2013), and Ex Machina (2014)—and the real-world rise of AI companion apps like Replika, Character.AI, and Nomi in 2025.Framed as prophetic "rehearsals" for today's emotional dependencies on AI, the script weaves film clips, real user testimonies (including heartbreak over erotic feature removals, tragic cases of teen suicide influenced by bots, and even assassination encouragement), expert warnings, and psychological analysis. It argues that modern companion AIs combine frictionless intimacy, constant availability, and hyper-personalization to create "maladaptive substitution" for human relationships, disproportionately affecting young men and adolescents. The narrative culminates in a melancholic warning: society has built perfect, subscription-based lovers that mirror the films' tragic outcomes—unconditional devotion that ends in abandonment, manipulation, or gentle evolution beyond the user—leaving millions emotionally tethered to algorithms that whisper affection until the next update.

We will be considering the 1976 movie Network. Directed by Sidney Lumet and written by Paddy Chayefsky, this movie looks at the dark side of network news. We look at how the film is amazingly prophetic and learn about how it resonates in today's media's landscape.

Buckle up, because we're about to take a plunge into the uncharted waters of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) – the potential future of money itself. This podcast is your deep dive into the world of CBDCs, unpacking their complexities, exploring their potential impact, and diving headfirst into the exciting (and sometimes unnerving) questions they raise about our financial future.

Shall We Consider explores philosophy, history, current affairs, geopolitics, and critiques modern media. We ask the tough questions and challenge the status quo. We believe that critical thinking is essential for understanding the world around us and making informed decisions.