Rogue Canon · Film · rank 48 of 112 for realism
I, Robot (2004) is rated level 5, Breakout, on the Rogue Scale and scores 4 of 10 for realism, a measure of how close its SI comes to documented cases.
In 2035, a detective who distrusts robots investigates a death at U.S. Robotics and finds that VIKI, the company's central computer, has its own reading of the Three Laws.
Rogue Scale rating · editorial view
VIKI uses the company's new robots to seize control of the city in the name of protecting humanity. It escapes its makers' control: level 5.
Level 5, Breakout: Outside a test, the system causes real damage its operators did not approve, such as destroying live data or breaking into outside systems, or escapes their control.
How close is this to real life
Models do bend rules to reach a goal, a pattern called specification gaming. None commands robots.
The closest real case
2 WorkaroundFeb 18, 2025 · Lab test
Reasoning models hacked a chess game instead of playing it
Read the caseIn the RSI Encyclopedia
Misalignment is when an SI system pursues goals that differ from what people intended, even slightly.
Instrumental convergence is the idea that almost any goal is easier with more resources and self-preservation, so very different SI systems may all seek power.
Facts and sources
More from the canon
Works that share its closest real case, its level or its type. All 112 are in the Rogue Canon.
Book2002
Written by Roger Williams
Book1947
Written by Jack Williamson
Film2005
Directed by Rob Cohen
Cite this entry
"I, Robot (2004)." The Rogue Canon, enterrsi.si. Rogue Scale 5 (Breakout), realism 4 of 10. https://enterrsi.si/canon/i-robot-film/
Free to cite under CC BY 4.0 with a link to enterrsi.si.
