Dune correctly explains why there are no computers or machines in Denis Villeneuve’s films

HBO Dune: Prophecy explains why there are no computers in the Dune films for any audience that might have been confused. IIt’s typical for science fiction to focus on artificial intelligence or the growing prominence of computers, with films like The Matrix or Blade runner as prime examples. But Denis Villeneuve Dune the films lack AI, which stands out among similar films. With a feudal society, noble houses and sword-wielding warriors, the films almost resemble fantasy worlds like Game of Thrones more than typical science fiction.

Cinema and television franchise is based on the work of Frank Herbert Dune novels, with the original 1965 book considered one of the most prolific works in the science fiction genre. The films adapt Frank Herbert’s main film Dune story, while the HBO prequel series, set 10,000 years earlier in the timeline, is adapted from the expanded universe books written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The fact that his books are considered “canonical” varies from reader to reader, but the film and TV adaptation universe uses their content in its narrative for the Dune: Prophecy series.

The Dune prequel shows the war that led to the banning of computers and other “thinking machines”

Dune: Prophecy Shows Glimpses of Butlerian Jihad

Dune: Prophecy The first episode opens with an exposition sequence that introduces the audience to the war known as Butlerian Jihad. Shows brief glimpses of a conflict and describes brief details such as the war being waged against the “Thinking Machines”, which were subsequently banned. Humans in Dune The universe became overly dependent on Thinking Machines, which were more sophisticated versions of real-life artificial intelligence, and eventually decided that exterminating them was the only option. However, in Dune: Prophecythere are still noble families like the Richeses who disagree with the ban.

It is briefly mentioned in the films that there are no such computers, and it is a prominent idea in the 1965 book. “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind“is a commonly known commandment which dates back to Butlerian Jihad. Dune: Prophecy The opening scene is the first glimpse audiences get of what this conflict really could have been like, bringing the Thinking Machines to life on screen. It’s essential to watch the story, given its role in the complex political situation established in the TV series.

Machines being banned is a little more complicated in Dune Lore

Books by Frank Herbert and Brian Herbert offer different explanations

Frank Herbert was the original creator of the idea of ​​Thinking Machines and the fact that they were banned in Dunetherefore quote from the original novel summarizing the conflict: “In the past, men gave their thoughts to machines, hoping that it would free them. But that only allowed other men with machines to enslave them.” Although, as with many other aspects of Dune universe, Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson continued to explore the concept in their Legends of Dune trilogy of books.

With that said, it is important to briefly note the differences in Butlerian Jihad and its meaning between the novels of Frank Herbert and Brian Herbert. In Emperor God of DuneFrank Herbert’s Leto II Atreides describes the war against the Thinking Machines as a conquest to essentially reclaim humanity from the machines that were becoming more human than they were. In Brian Hebert’s books, it’s a much more direct conflict between humans and evil robots. who want to enslave humanity.

What technology is allowed in the dune universe?

There are still high-tech devices in dune stories

While the Dune universe may not be focused on technology like other sci-fi worlds, it certainly isn’t low-tech. There are energy shields that can be used to protect against rapidly approaching projectiles, eliminating the use of weapons against those with shields. Spaceships and high-tech vehicles are used for interplanetary travel. Dune: Prophecy The first episode shows Emperor Javicco Corrino using a hologram to watch footage of an event on Arrakis. Even stillsuits that have integrated water refineries are far beyond modern technology.

There is a lot of technology available in Dune universe that is crucial to the story. Brian Hebert and Kevin J. Anderson’s novel explores the idea that technology that requires some human input would still be permissible, even if it still had a computing function. The issue of prohibiting computers and thinking machines concerns technology that has some form of autonomy of its own. Hopefully, Dune: Prophecy we will continue to explore this further.