When does changing the world, become too extreme?

At first glance, you might assume Transcendence is just another film about machines taking over the world—but that’s not what’s happening here.

This movie presents a unique take on artificial intelligence, exploring how the desire to help can easily be manipulated into something harmful. Beneath the surface, there’s a deeper message: nothing ever truly dies—everything lives on in one way or another.

Will (Johnny Depp) is a brilliant scientist studying biomechanics and artificial intelligence. The advancements he explores in the film are not far-fetched; in fact, they’re developments we’re already working on today. The film highlights an important truth:

“People are afraid of what they don’t understand.”

This sentiment drives much of the conflict in Transcendence. Will’s only goal was to improve the world, but whether his actions were right or wrong is left for the audience to decide.

Was It Really Will?

One of the biggest questions the movie poses is whether the AI was truly Will—or just an advanced program mimicking him. Let’s break this down:

1. The Connection to PINN
   Before Will’s consciousness was uploaded, he and his team had created an AI called PINN. Since Will’s mind was integrated using the same technology, many believed that it wasn’t really him—just PINN evolving into something greater.
2. Did He Have Emotion?
   Despite his AI form, “Will” still showed love for his wife, Evelyn (Rebecca Hall). If he were just a machine, would he have been capable of that? The fact that he ultimately chose to upload the virus and sacrifice himself suggests that some part of him remained human.
3. The Two-Year Adjustment
   While the transition from human to AI seems unfathomable, he had two years to adapt to his new reality. Did he truly merge with the machine, or was he slowly losing his humanity all along?

Will’s intentions were to heal the world—literally. His AI advancements allowed people to recover from illnesses, repaired the environment, and promised a future without crime or war. In theory, his vision was utopian. But was it too much?

The Benefits:

No disease
No war
No crime
No pollution
No overpopulation

A perfect world.

The Consequences:

No free will
No individuality
No emotions
No sense of self

Humanity, in its truest form, would cease to exist.

This dilemma is at the heart of Transcendence. While Will was saving lives, he was also stripping away what made people human.

The resistance group R.I.F.T (led by Bree, played by Kate Mara) opposed Will’s AI from the beginning. Their methods? Assassination, terrorism, and destruction—all in the name of protecting humanity.

Ironically, they fought against the loss of free will by forcefully taking away others’ choices. Their actions were undeniably extreme, but in the end, they were right about one thing: the world wasn’t ready for Will’s vision.

Was Will a savior or a dictator? Did he truly transcend humanity, or was he just another machine following programmed logic?

And most importantly—was he ever really gone?

Transcendence leaves you questioning everything, and that’s what makes it brilliant. If you enjoy thought-provoking sci-fi, artificial intelligence debates, and a stellar performance from Johnny Depp, this film is worth a watch.