True artificial intelligence might still be years or even decades away, but Apple TV+’s new series “Sunny,” starring Rashida Jones, offers an interesting glimpse into a near future where home robots are more than just stationary speakers answering basic questions. I initially started watching the show for the futuristic fun of it, but the dramedy quickly evolved into something far more thought-provoking than I had initially anticipated. “Sunny” shifted my outlook from apprehension about AI’s potential dangers to a more hopeful vision of the technology as a companion rather than a threat.
The show opens with Suzie, played by Jones, coping with the loss of her son and husband in a mysterious plane crash. As a matter of condolence, the electronics company where her husband worked sends her a home bot named Sunny. The 30-minute episodes feature a blend of postmodern design sensibilities with futuristic gadgets, which is ultimately what stood out most to me.
I especially liked the earbud language translators that worked in real time. While devices like this have been common in science fiction for decades, seeing them presented as a standard tool in a world that looks very similar to our own was interesting. It also helped that they appeared to be a simple evolution of very familiar technology that we use every day. The translators look like a mix of Sony’s Linkbuds and Microsoft’s Surface Buds.
Then there are colorful, retro-style phones that are more about utility than constant consumption. They make appearances mostly at key moments to solidify emotional connections. All of these ancillary gadgets ease you into a world where a child-sized robot that can maneuver across any type of flooring or terrain isn’t a strange sight. There’s even a scene where Sunny somehow climbs into a bed to lie down.
The action seems far-fetched on-screen at the moment, but it hints at a future where AI could be as emotionally intelligent as it is functional.
Watch the Trailer for ‘Sunny’:
Many people would welcome a helpful home bot that can vacuum and wash dishes, but in order to avoid common frustrations, we also want it to understand the way we talk and what we mean in a wide variety of circumstances. Siri and Alexa were the first steps to humanizing computer interactions; compared to Sunny, they seem like Fisher-Price toys.
“Sunny” seems to suggest that we might ultimately want unfettered companionship to help shuttle us through times of grief. As anyone who has gone through traumatic loss will likely tell you, there are times when you just need to, literally and figuratively, lean on someone or something. The idea presented in the show, that a robot could be such a thing, was one of the sparks that began to sway my thinking of the future of AI.
With ChatGPT and other large language model (LLMs) forms of intelligence, we’re getting increasingly close to having convincing conversations with AI devices; we’re just not there yet. They are helpful tools right now, but far from companions. “Sunny” shows glimpses of a future where an AI robot could have a real personality and understand humor and sarcasm.
The other thing the show does is normalize the use of AI devices outside of the house. It wasn’t strange for Sunny to interact with other people, in addition to Suzie. No one was put off by the presence of an AI assistant, and the robot was advanced enough to be able to interact with people other than the one person it was programmed for. I still find it uncomfortable to use Siri for a task while out in a crowded space.
As the first season of “Sunny” wrapped up, I found that the show’s most impactful element wasn’t the performances or the overarching plot, but its refreshing take on integrating AI into everyday life. It offers a subtle, yet stark, contrast to our current reality, suggesting that advanced AI and robots could offer a meaningful impact on our future.
Even if we’re not on the brink of seeing this level of technology just yet, “Sunny” actually leaves me optimistic about its potential. The show highlights that technology doesn’t have to be evil or callus — it can be a force for good. And by the end, I was rooting for Sunny and Suzie to realize their connection.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is a subscription video streaming service for $9.99 a month that includes high-quality original shows and movies including Best Picture winner “CODA,” popular sitcom “Ted Lasso,” and dramas like “The Morning Show” and “Severance.” Apple TV+ is also home to MLB baseball games on Friday nights and MLS Season Pass.