Humans: a Discontinued Line? - When Will Machines Take Over?

Machines are cleverer and faster than humans may sound like science fiction, but scientists all around the world are working on making this scenario come true. Should the breakthrough in the area of AI - artificial intelligence - succeed, and there is a lot of evidence suggesting it will, then our lives will change radically. But the question is: for better or for worse?

Scientists are working hard on a form of artificial intelligence deserving of the name. And they're making rapid progress, supported by the billions invested by major high-tech companies and the military. Is this a danger? Filmmaker Christiane Schwarz compares dreams with facts and asks: how far have the scientists got? Whom do they serve and what goals are they pursuing? Computers can already trick people into believing they're communicating with another human being. But are machines capable of learning? Can they understand complex associations? The search for answers takes the author from carmakers in Germany to the birthplace of robotics in Japan and weapons developers in Dubai. This documentary about clever robots isn't a journey into fictional worlds of the future - it's a trip through the here and now.