science fiction

AI researcher and Coursera co-founder Andrew Ng dismissed warnings that artificial intelligence could drive humanity to extinction, describing such fears as 'science fiction'. The remarks have reignited debate between AI safety advocates, who argue catastrophic risk deserves serious attention, and pragmatists like Ng who say alarmism distracts from concrete near-term harms such as bias, job displacement and misuse.

Industry commentary argues that Isaac Asimov's famous Three Laws of Robotics, while culturally influential, are not an adequate framework for ensuring the safety of modern robotics and artificial intelligence. The discussion comes as real-world AI and robotic systems grow more complex and autonomous, prompting calls for practical safety standards, regulation, and engineering safeguards that go beyond science fiction-era rules.

A new commentary argues that media coverage of artificial intelligence focuses too much on speculative, science-fiction scenarios while ignoring real harms happening today. The author contends generative AI is already damaging people's lives and that debating futuristic risks wastes attention and resources. The piece adds to an ongoing debate about whether AI discourse should prioritize present-day harms like misinformation, bias and labor impacts over existential ones.

A recurring question-of-the-day prompt is asking people to name the most annoying villain from a fictional work they actually enjoy, drawing replies across books, videogames, science fiction, fantasy, movies, TV, anime, comics, tabletop games and musicals. The distinction of 'derogatory' annoying, rather than simply well-written frustrating characters, is fuelling playful, argumentative responses about which villains grate the most.

Reports say robots are now being used to manufacture other robots, marking a step toward fully automated production in the robotics industry. The idea of self-replicating machines has long been a staple of science fiction, and the news is prompting discussion about how far automation in factories could go, and what it might mean for manufacturing jobs and the future of the industry.

A roundup of 125 science fiction, horror, and fantasy books hitting shelves in October highlights new releases from Cassandra Khaw, Annalee Newitz, Stephen King, Stephen Graham Jones, Sarah J. Maas, and Jane Schoenbrun. The list is drawing attention from genre readers looking ahead to a busy autumn publishing season spanning horror, fantasy, and speculative fiction.

A quotation from Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem is circulating in discussions about large language models. Lem, who wrote extensively about machine intelligence and its limits decades before modern AI, is being cited as a prescient voice on whether machines can truly think. Readers are sharing the quote as commentary on current AI debates.

A World War Two historian is reviewing war films and separating fact from fiction, examining how accurately the movies depict science, weapons and wartime events. The reaction format has drawn strong engagement, with viewers enjoying professional verdicts on whether Hollywood gets its history right or takes dramatic liberties with the reality of the Second World War.

Electric Literature has published an essay in which the author explores how the stereotype of the Asian robot maid has shaped her life and thinking. The piece examines the cultural and literary history of the figure, connecting science fiction imagery to real experiences of Asian women's labor being devalued or rendered invisible.

Metro's Games Inbox is asking readers whether Naughty Dog will ever return to the Uncharted series, inviting speculation about the future of the PlayStation adventure franchise. The studio has not released a new mainline Uncharted game since Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and its spin-off The Lost Legacy, with recent focus on The Last of Us Part II and its upcoming science fiction game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. Readers are debating whether a revival, remake, or handover to another studio is more likely.

Talk is growing about the prospect of cage fighting events pitting humans against robots, blending the spectacle of UFC with the machine-on-machine battles of Robot Wars. The idea, once confined to science fiction, is being framed as an emerging possibility as combat robotics and humanoid machines advance, raising questions about entertainment, safety and the future of fighting sports.

People are sharing a line from Iain M. Banks's 1988 science fiction novel The Player of Games: "A guilty system recognizes no innocents." The quote, from the chapter "Imperium," is being circulated in discussions of US politics, with readers suggesting it captures how corrupt institutions implicate everyone within them. It is being used as a pointed commentary on American political life.

Viewers are posting early reviews of Sparks of Tomorrow Season 1, a Netflix science fiction anime described as an action, adventure, drama with family and romance elements. The show's first season is being watched and assessed on streaming, with reviewers sharing detailed takes including spoilers as discussion of the series gets under way.

Science fiction and fantasy artist Jeff Zugale has put a new acrylic painting up for sale, an 11x14 inch canvas titled DUS•TCL•OUD•SUR•VEY•004, which ships immediately. Prints of the piece are also offered for around $40 plus shipping. He describes himself as a solo artist who is self-supporting and 'on the edge', asking followers to boost and share the listing to help him make ends meet.

A severed robotic hand has drawn comparisons to Thing, the disembodied hand from 'The Addams Family', after footage of the device circulated in coverage by Popular Science. Commenters noted how the futuristic prosthetic-like hand moving on its own evokes the fictional character, highlighting advances in robotic dexterity and animatronics.

Coverage of Fantastic Fest 2026 continues with a second round-up highlighting the genre lineup, spanning psychological thrillers, science fiction, crime stories, and vampire fare. Film writers are cataloguing the standout premieres from the Austin festival, which remains a key launchpad for horror and cult cinema ahead of the fall release season.

A new story titled The Lumen Children is being shared with readers online, described as an audiobook and written work spanning science fiction and fantasy. The story's themes touch on consciousness, creativity, reality and genetic memory, and it appears to be published via the author's newsletter. Engagement so far is small, but it is circulating in art and writing communities among readers of speculative fiction.

Law firm WilmerHale has published an analysis on the legal reality of placing data centers in orbit, arguing the concept is no longer just science fiction. The piece examines the regulatory and liability questions that companies launching orbital computing infrastructure would face, as the space economy and commercial satellite activity expand rapidly.

New research suggests a deadly fungus, compared to the pathogen featured in the series 'The Last of Us', may be vulnerable to elimination itself. Coverage on science news outlets discusses findings on the fungus's biology and possible ways to stop it, drawing attention because the fictional show made fungal infections a mainstream fear.