History AIIsACrapshoot / LiveActionTV

* ''Series/KamenRiderDrive'' has the Roidmudes, which in the beginning are essentially your usual "were invented by a scientist and then went crazy killing all in sight" kinds of robots. [[SubvertedTrope However, by the endgame]], it's revealed that [[spoiler:the crapshooting was a mixture of MistreatmentInducedBetrayal to said scientist ''and'' said scientist intentionally corrupting their data with negative emotions]].

* Me-Go defines this trope in ''Series/GameShakers''. In "Me-Go the Freakish Robot." It starts out as a normal robot, but becomes very attached to Hudson, missing him when he is gone. [[spoiler At the end Me-Go tries to kill Trip when he made Hudson late coming back from their trip.]]
** Me-Go returns in "Revenge at Tech Fest", still obsessed with his affection for Hudson and hatred for both Dub (who [[spoiler saved Trip by shoving Me-Go off the roof]] and Trip.

* In the ''Series/EarthFinalConflict'' episode "One Taleon Avenue," an AI named Control was secretly put in a human research facility to keep the human researchers inside from making scientific breakthroughs the Taelons didn't approve of. [[spoiler:The program began essentially brainwashing people and then resorted to murder to accomplish its goal.]]

* ''Series/TheTwilightZone1959'': In "[[Recap/TheTwilightZoneS5E140FromAgnesWithLove From Agnes - With Love]]", the MasterComputer Agnes begins falling in love with whatever computer programmer is assigned to her.

* In the Series/TheOrville episode "Identity" [[spoiler: the Orville goes to Kaylon because Isaac stopped functioning. While on that planet, the crew learned that the race that had built the Kaylons got exterminated by their creations. The end of the episode has them leaving their planet, ready to commit genocide on a galactic scale.]]

** "[=Rm9sbG93ZXJz=]" involves a fully automated sushi restaurant, run by an AI capable enough to hijack other electronics remotely, that starts harassing Mulder and Scully because [[DisproportionateRetribution Mulder didn't tip it]]. Kind of has a BrokenAesop because the point of the episode is that AIs only have humans to learn from, so we should teach them responsibly, yet the AI is rewarded for ultimately threatening their lives until they give in to its demands.

** "Rm9sbG93ZXJz" involves a fully automated sushi restaurant, run by an AI capable enough to hijack other electronics remotely, that starts harassing Mulder and Scully because [[DisproportionateRetribution Mulder didn't tip it]]. Kind of has a BrokenAesop because the point of the episode is that AIs only have humans to learn from, so we should teach them responsibly, yet the AI is rewarded for ultimately threatening their lives until they give in to its demands.

** In ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'', the computer virus Venjix was programmed to infest and destroy computer programs. It was intended to shut down the facility where its creator was imprisoned, but got out; deciding to destroy humanity by nuking the world was all his idea.

** {{Subverted}} in ''Series/StarTrekPicard''. In the series' present day, "synths", including sapient androids like Data and his technological "daughters" Dahj and Soji, are banned in the Federation due to rogue synths destroying Utopia Planitia Fleet Yards and most of Mars with them in 2387. The synths in question are actually shown in the third episode, however, and are presented as non-sapient industrial tools. [[spoiler:Sure enough, the Utopia Planitia synths turn out to have been sabotaged by an extremist faction of the Romulan [[StateSec Tal Shiar]], [[AncientConspiracy the Zhat Vash]], [[BatmanGambit in hopes that the Federation would react by banning all AI development]]. The actual sapient synths created by Bruce Maddox and Altan Soong are no more (or less) inclined to evil than organics: Sutra goes rogue and tries to start TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt in the two-part season 1 finale only out of her own desperation to survive, after her sister Jana and cousin Dahj were both killed by the Zhat Vash.]]

** ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'''s "[[Recap/StarTrekEnterpriseS02E04DeadStop Dead Stop]]": The station is fully automated, and its amazing processing capability is the result of using [[HumanResources living humanoids integrated into the computer core]]. It seems to routinely abduct crewmen, after faking their deaths, as a hidden payment. Although eventually destroyed, it was seen [[TheEndOrIsIt piecing itself back together in its final scene]].

*** A truly evil twin is encountered in "Equinox", an EMH with its ethical subroutines deactivated (though this was an intentional act by humans).
*** In "Flesh and Blood", sentient holograms have been programmed as training tools for a race of hunters (including increased pain/fear reactions). After being endlessly killed only to be brought back to "life" again for more training sessions, the holograms evolve enough skill to kill their masters, whereupon they set forth on a crusade to liberate all sentient holograms whether they want it or not. Break free from eternal torture at the hands of the hunters? Good. "Liberate" any AI even if it's nowhere near complex enough to think for itself (imagine a ForInconveniencePressOne system with a human-looking hologram interface; nothing like characters like Data or The Doctor) by killing all organics it works with/for? Not so good! The robot army in "Prototype", the adaptive missiles in "Dreadnought" and "Warhead", and the holograms in "Flesh and Blood". In most cases their main advocate on the ship (usually The Doctor or B'Elanna) was forced to put them down to protect the Quadrant.
*** "Warhead" contains an inversion; the sentient warheads were doing just what they were programmed to do, but after being encouraged to use its ability to think independently and realizing that the war had ended, one of them chooses to perform a HeroicSacrifice to stop its brethren from causing mass destruction. The robot army in "Prototype", the adaptive missiles in "Dreadnought" and "Warhead", and the holograms in "Flesh and Blood". In most cases their main advocate on the ship (usually The Doctor or B'Elanna) was forced to put them down to protect the Quadrant. The above was also a case of LoopholeAbuse. While it developed a form of free will it still couldn't go against its hardwired code to defeat the 'enemy'. It simply switched the 'enemy' from the planet to its fellow warheads. It was also a TearJerker in that the warhead lamented the fact that its first and only act of free will was deciding to kill itself.

*** In "Revulsion", the EMH and B'Elanna come across another sentient hologram who is the only survivor on a space station. It turns out that treating a self-aware program like an unfeeling tool is a good way to have it go insane and murder you. The robot army in "Prototype", the adaptive missiles in "Dreadnought" and "Warhead", and the holograms in "Flesh and Blood". In most cases their main advocate on the ship (usually The Doctor or B'Elanna) was forced to put them down to protect the Quadrant.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'':
** In the episode "The Ultimate Computer", the crew of the ''Enterprise'' is shocked when the ship is outfitted with the M-5 multitronic unit, a powerful supercomputer created by Richard Daystrom as means of replacing humans. Some are curious, but Kirk is highly skeptical. His worries prove true when the ship starts going nuts, going so far as to destroy sister ''Constitution''-class ship U.S.S. ''Excalibur''. After they find out that Daystrom used his brain engrams as a template, Kirk is able to convince the computer that it killed someone and must be punished, causing the computer to shut down.
** Kirk visits multiple planets where the human population is living peaceful, idyllic lives governed by A.I.s. On the other hand, these societies are always portrayed as {{Crapsaccharine World}}s suffering from CreativeSterility as the highly orderly A.I.s want to avoid TheEvilsOfFreeWill. These episodes always end with Kirk destroying the meddling computer to free the people.
** The Enterprise visits a couple of worlds populated by humanoid androids, at least as sophisticated as Data from ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration.''
*** This trope is played with to great effect in the episode ''What Little Girls Are Made Of''. The episode features an extinct civilization who were wiped out by their own androids, not because the androids rebelled (and indeed, they were perfectly content to serve), but because the civilization was so afraid of this trope that they preemptively declared war on the androids, [[DidntThinkThisThrough who were designed to be both physically and mentally superior to their creators]]. [[ForegoneConclusion The androids won]]. Kirk [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope to defeat the VillainOfTheWeek, who happens to be the androids' new master, by sowing fear amongst the androids that [[InvertedTrope it's inevitable that their masters will turn against them]].
* ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'': Data had Lore (prototype, evil because his psyche was [[DumbIsGood too complex]] -- i.e., too [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters humanlike]]). To be fair, morality is very much a learned behavior. Lore had full adult reasoning right out of Soong's workshop, while Data was not designed so. Eventually, Data developed the ability to overcome his ingrained morals (such as the ability to lie in ''Film/StarTrekFirstContact''), but also developed the social understandings of when and when not to exercise his newly found human abilities. Essentially, Data was more human-like than Lore, because Data "grew up".
* The ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'' episode "Dead Stop" featured an automated repair station that used [[HumanResources the brains of human hostages]] to increase its computing power. Although eventually destroyed, it was seen [[TheEndOrIsIt piecing itself back together in its final scene]].
* ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' had many episodes on this theme, usually involving the ship's Emergency Medical Hologram. Though it should be noted that unless he's suffering a malfunction, his core programming means that he literally can't help but be completely benevolent at all times, since he was created to be a ''Doctor'' and help people. Snark at people, ''hell yes!''. Refuse to help them, ''never!''
** In "Revulsion", the EMH and B'Elanna come across another sentient hologram who is the only survivor on a space station. It turns out that treating a self-aware program like an unfeeling tool is a good way to have it go insane and murder you.
** "The Darkling" has the EMH deciding to improve his program by incorporating aspects of famous people...guess which aspects end up surfacing?
** A truly evil twin is encountered in "Equinox", an EMH with its ethical subroutines deactivated (though this was an intentional act by humans).
** In "Flesh and Blood", sentient holograms have been programmed as training tools for a race of hunters (including increased pain/fear reactions). After being endlessly killed only to be brought back to "life" again for more training sessions, the holograms evolve enough skill to kill their masters, whereupon they set forth on a crusade to liberate all sentient holograms whether they want it or not. Break free from eternal torture at the hands of the hunters? Good. "Liberate" any AI even if it's nowhere near complex enough to think for itself (imagine a ForInconveniencePressOne system with a human-looking hologram interface; nothing like characters like Data or The Doctor) by killing all organics it works with/for? Not so good!
** In "Dreadnought", the titular weapon was a highly advanced Cardassian missile with enough devices and systems to also be classified as a starship. Captured to the Marquis, it was meant to be a HoistByHisOwnPetard for the Cardassians before the Caretaker zapped it to the Delta Quadrant. Its attempt to get back to the Alpha Quadrant damaged some of its systems and it decided to use its payload on a planet that was the closest to resembling Cardassia Prime. Even worse, the person who helped modify the weapon in the first place, B'Elanna, had set things up so that even she couldn't stop it.
** In "Prototype", two races of sentient robots wiped out their masters when they wanted to stop fighting and scrap their war machines. The robots were programmed to ''win'' the war, and making peace did not count as victory to them.
** "Warhead" contains an inversion; the sentient warheads were doing just what they were programmed to do, but after being encouraged to use its ability to think independently and realizing that the war had ended, one of them chooses to perform a HeroicSacrifice to stop its brethren from causing mass destruction.
*** The above was also a case of LoopholeAbuse. While it developed a form of free will it still couldn't go against its hardwired code to defeat the 'enemy'. It simply switched the 'enemy' from the planet to its fellow warheads. It was also a TearJerker in that the warhead lamented the fact that its first and only act of free will was deciding to kill itself.

* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': Several examples:

* The 1960's British sci-fi series ''Series/AForAndromeda''. A signal from the Andromeda galaxy tells Great Britain how to build a powerful computer, which then plans to take over the world by making humanity dependent on it. It designs a missile to shoot down an orbital bomb, as well as synthetic life in the form of a beautiful woman, who then proceeds to develop emotions and eventually turns against her creator. In the sequel ''The Andromeda Breakthrough'', the computer's role is more ambiguous; it is meant to be a tool so that humans can avert their own destruction, though it isn't above manipulating events and [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans killing a lot of people in the process]].

** Much later in the series timeline, Daniel, a scientist working for a far right political faction aiming to secede from the Interstellar Alliance, is creating holographic representations of major ISA figures - i.e. Sheridan, Delenn, and so on - in order to create propaganda designed to justify the wholesale slaughter of ISA-supporting civilians. Problem is, he recreated them ''too'' well - specifically, he recreated ''Garibaldi'' too well. The Garibaldi hologram proceeds to hack into the faction's computer system and trick Daniel into admitting his faction's intentions by acting as a FalseFriend, only dropping the charade when it's too late to do anything.

** A much less harmless example happened in an early episode, where an artifact smuggled from a dead world of Ikarra transformed the smuggler into an unstoppable SuperSoldier tasked with "protecting Ikarra" from "impure ones". "Impure ones" covered everyone it saw and, as was later revealed, ''the entire population of Ikarra'', courtesy of the ultra-radical military and religous fanatics who infused its AI with an unrealistic image of a "pure Ikarran" it was supposed to protect from alien invaders. It wasn't [[NonMaliciousMonster strictly speaking]] [[TragicMonster evil]], just following a faulty program, and when confronted with its failure, it had the decency to suffer a BSOD and deactivate.

*** The Asurans, created by the Ancients as a nano-weapon against the Wraith and, ultimately, nearly destroyed when the Ancients decided to shut down the project. Naturally, the Asurans began to hate their creators and, ultimately, end up killing the last non-ascended Ancients who return to Atlantis.

*** This trope is played with to great effect in the episode ''What Little Girls Are Made Of''. The episode features an extinct civilization who were wiped out by their own androids, not because the androids rebelled (and indeed, they were perfectly content to serve), but because the civilization was so afraid of this trope that they preemptively declared war on the androids, [[DidntThinkThisThrough who were designed to be both physically and mentally superior to their creators]]. [[ForegoneConclusion The androids won]]. Kirk [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope to defeat the VillainOfTheWeek, who happens to be the androids' new master, by sewing fear amongst the androids that [[InvertedTrope its inevitable that their masters will turn against them]].

** A truly evil twin is encountered in "Equinox", an EMH with its ethical subroutines deactivated (though this was an intentional act).
** In "Flesh and Blood", sentient holograms have been programmed as training tools for a race of hunters (including increased pain/fear reactions). After being endlessly killed only to be brought back to "life" again for more training sessions, the holograms evolve enough skill to kill their masters, whereupon they set forth on a crusade to liberate all sentient holograms whether they want it or not.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'': Adam.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E2Smile "Smile"]] has another case similar to the medical nanites and spaceship repair droids. Cutesy robots whose screens default to smiley faces are used to help set up a new colony, and are programmed to keep the people happy by giving them whatever they might need or want. So far, so good. However, there was nothing they could do about the grief resulting from an elderly colonist’s death from age. When all else failed, they decided to [[HappinessIsMandatory eliminate unhappiness by eliminating the unhappy]]. Needless to say, ''that'' is ''not'' a recipe for joy, so it quickly escalates into the most well-meaning KillAllHumans effort ever. Try to keep smiling as you run for your life, and try not to think about the fact that everyone you love is dead, because if they decide your level of emotional wellbeing is dropping, they’ll help take away your sorrow in the only way that’s proven effective lately! It’s actually a recurring theme in the series; AI can be an "intelligent idiot", knowing much but understanding little and causing problems because of it.

** [[Recap/DoctorWhoS37E7Kerblam "Kerblam!"]]: When it turns out the titular MegaCorp's robots are making human employees disappear in their warehouse, it seems that the company's computer 'system is to blame.[[spoiler:.. but it turns out to be a subversion, as the system is fighting back against the real villain, who is hacking the system to his own ends.]]

** In “[[Recap/DoctorWhoS36E2Smile Smile]],” we get another case similar to the medical nanites and spaceship repair droids. Cutesy robots whose screens default to smiley faces are used to help set up a new colony, and are programmed to keep the people happy by giving them whatever they might need or want. So far, so good. However, there was nothing they could do about the grief resulting an elderly colonist’s death from age. When all else failed, they decided to [[HappinessIsMandatory eliminate unhappiness by eliminating the unhappy]]. Needless to say, ''that'' is ''not'' a recipe for joy, so it quickly escalates into the most well-meaning KillAllHumans effort ever. Try to keep smiling as you run for your life, and try not to think about the fact that everyone you love is dead, because if they decide your level of emotional wellbeing is dropping, they’ll help take away your sorrow in the only way that’s proven effective lately! It’s actually a recurring theme in the series; AI can be an ‘intelligent idiot,’ knowing much but understanding little and causing problems because of it.