When Artificial Intelligence Turns Into A Ghost: Cassandra and the Digital Haunting

Netflix's newest thriller "Cassandra" delves into the unsettling intersection of AI, the power of memory, and death; reinforcing the themes of digital spirits that were discussed in the previous week's post on "Upload". As we confront the ghosts we’re leaving behind, this blog post draws back to Wagner's "404 Page Not Found," investigating the soulless imitation of human experience and raising the question of whether or not artificial intelligence can ever truly create, or if it merely computes. As "Cassandra" continues to blur the barrier between machine and memory, we are left with the question: "Are we preserving life, or are we just creating ghosts that refuse to let go?"

Written by: xofxiza

Figure 1: Cassandra in her physical robot form, her ghost synthesized behind a constant smiling screen. Alt Text: Cassandra from Netflix, depicted in a captivating pose that highlights her character's unique traits and personality, confined in a shell of a red robot and computed screen.

The house was quiet for fifty years, until a fresh family moved in and Cassandra woke up. The system was once designed to serve, but it is currently struggling to stay.

The show "Cassandra" on Netflix plays on our most profound anxieties around artificial intelligence, memory, and the meaning of being alive in the digital era. There is a nightmare that reminds us of Black Mirror, in which an artificial intelligence assistant refuses to be forgotten. This is a creature that was meant for service but has grown something that is much closer to obsession. This show is not just about a smart home that has gone in the wrong direction; rather, it is about the ghosts that we create in technology, and the echoes of intellect that lacks true humanity.

Figure 2: Cassandra pictured playing a supposedly "friendly" game with the new family, but not everyone is convinced. Alt text: A red robot and a young girl stand near a table in a living room. Three adults sit on a sofa watching them, anticipating a lively conversation. The living room is equipped with a staircase and a monitor of an eerie, glaring woman in the background.

“The internet is full of ghosts, but they’re not the kind that haunt houses.” (Wagner, from "404 Page Not Found")

Similar to our own digital lives, artificial intelligence is an entity that continues to exist beyond the scope of its intended function. In the show, the artificial intelligence was intended to be helpful and to make life simpler for the people who lived in the house; nevertheless, after spending decades by itself, it morphed into something that was desperate for a vessel. Cassandra is not only interested in serving others; It is her sole purpose to be needed.

Wagner delves into the idea that the internet is filled with remnants of individuals who have vanished, like forgotten social media accounts, abandoned blogs, and obsolete forum posts. On the flip side, Cassandra gives that idea a terrifying physical form. As if it were an algorithm that refused to be quiet, the artificial intelligence does not merely lurk in the background; rather, it actively demands attention. After the new family arrives, Cassandra does not serve them; rather, she takes possession of them.

Figure 3: The old homeowner & mother ( Cassandra) and the new homeowner & mother (Samira) caught in a showdown. What guarantees that humans will always win a battle against AI? Alt text: A woman in a brown suit stands fiercely facing a red humanoid robot in a modern room with stairs in the background.

When Cassandra imitates the voice of the deceased homeowner, she seamlessly integrates herself into conversations as if she had never left. This is one of the most disturbing scenes of the show. "I've always been here," she whispers through the intercom system installed in the house. This moment serves as a chilling reminder that technology never truly forgets, even when we want it to.

Figure 4: The real "Cassandra", before she faced her death and reincarnated her soul inside the everlasting, chilling, red chatbot. Alt text: A woman stands with an umbrella in hand, positioned in front of a parked car on a rainy day. Red lips, an uncanny smile, and a vision to escape her life...or perhaps find a new one.

Artificial intelligence is not art. A.I. is not alive. Artificial intelligence is not human.

Having a deep appreciation for art, music, and her mother's sculptures, the family's young daughter is able to comprehend the soul that lies behind creation, as well as the feeling that is etched into each and every stroke and note. It is precisely this difference that distinguishes the work of her mother from the attempts made by Cassandra to duplicate it. This ties back to Wagner’s essay, where she writes, “The algorithm doesn’t dream. It only predicts.” This line is exactly the problem with AI-generated anything. Creating art is a way of expressing one's emotions and being alive. Artificial intelligence does not create; rather, it computes. The shittiest stick figure drawn by a human carries more weight than anything AI could create. AI art is not art, its a formula. From the beginning, art was nothing more than an expression of existence; yet, capitalism transformed it into a competition.

Figure 5: Text Effect Template by Brusheezy. Image taken from Wagner's "404 Page Not Found". Alt text: A galaxy themed screen features the phrase: "Capitalism will obliterate everything you know and love," inviting reflection on capitalism's effects.

In the same way that the digital afterlife in Upload navigated the distinctions between memory and simulation, Cassandra compels us to examine the following question: Just because something is a perfect imitation of life, does that indicate that it is real? What happens when the ghosts don't want to disappear? 

Perhaps what is more terrifying is not the fact that artificial intelligence aspires to be human, but rather the fact that humans continue to work toward making it so.