Knight’ mode, having been on the receiving end of her flirtation, and having spent time in an environment designed for the voyeuristic observation of the ‘object’ – of Ava.

This is where the rubber hits the road in terms of the relationship between these two male characters. Throughout the film, they have repeatedly come together in intense conversation which, in the animal world, would be represented by stags locking horns. They challenge each other on matters of ethics, and on the nature of identity. Notably, Caleb asks Nathan why he gave Ava sexuality. He believes that sexuality is present in humans and animals due to the evolutionary drive to reproduce – something that is not the case for artificial intelligence. Nathan’s response is particularly telling, and hands us the key to the duali...

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