‘Mercy’ demonstrates the dangers of AI in the legal system

By Josh Ball

Is it better to acquit a guilty man or to convict an innocent one? The presumption of innocence we enjoy takes the former stance. Chris Pratt’s new film “Mercy” explores this debate for the modern audience.

In the future, Los Angeles experiments with the Mercy Capital Court. Defendants accused of capital murder find themselves strapped to a chair before an AI judge. Under a presumption of guilt, the defendant is given 90 minutes to clear their name. With access to the entire city’s camera footage and all of its digital information, the Mercy AI calculates the probability of the defendant’s guilt.

If they cannot fall below the 92% threshold at the end of 90 minutes, they will be executed on the spot. This is the situation in which detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) finds himself before Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) when accused of killing his wife.

The acting ability displayed between Pratt and Ferguson, showcases why these two continue to land big roles. “Mercy” featured a small cast with only three major players and about five in the background. Despite the lack of diverse interactions, Pratt and Ferguson had great chemistry and were able to keep the audience engaged.

Outside the courtroom, the action was good. Detective Raven worked with his partner Jaq Diallo (Kali Reis) hunting the person who actually murdered his wife. The added theater of the film allowed for the writers to showcase their talent. Plot twists abounded, continually blindsiding the viewer and driving engagement throughout the film. The expert use of plot twists also allowed for deep conspiracies to build on each other, building tension to the climax brilliantly.

This is the first film that has ever – literally –  brought me to the edge of my seat in a theater. As the pieces fell into place, I found my eyes glued to the screen wanting to find out what would happen next.

In scope, this movie covers so much. One of the most gripping plot lines was Detective Raven’s interactions with his daughter, Britt (Kylie Rogers). With her father’s reputation ruined for her, Britt finds herself doubting who to believe: her father or AI. It evoked the real life rift between every parent and child that all parties involved deeply grieve and wish resolved.

As AI evolves and expands, “Mercy” stands as a warning not to let it invade every area of our lives. The cold, strictly logical thinking of the Mercy Court takes out a vital piece of every case: humanity. 

Aside from the emotional aspect humanity provides over an unfeeling AI, our brains are also more capable of inference. Where Judge Maddox can only look at the evidence and calculate the odds of Detective Raven’s guilt, a jury can grasp more complex explanations. In short, AI is prone to commit the False Dilemma and Non Sequitur fallacies. Perhaps the most important warning within “Mercy” is its reminder that AI is not human.

The unrelentingly emotionless Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson) presides over Detective Raven’s trial

AI is an increasing reality in our lives. As it becomes more and more present, it is important to remember the special standing of humanity in creation. We alone have the ability to think and to create. This gift, given to us by God in the Garden of Eden, is one of our best. We use it for many things, including the creation of AI. But we must remember that nothing we create will be God, nor will it have the ability to think to the same extent as the human mind.

In an era when we place increasing faith in technology, “Mercy” reminds us that it will fail us in the end because technology is not God. As AI infiltrates more and more fields, including law, Marco van Belle and the other writers implore us to think of the consequences of such dependence. Inevitably, it will erode the creative mind of humanity, ultimately demeaning human life. In the case of AI courts, it will convince us to believe in the presumption of guilt.

“Mercy” serves as a brilliant, action packed reminder that it is better to acquit a guilty man than to convict an innocent one.

“Mercy” is currently playing in theaters

Josh Ball is a junior history major. He loves “The Lord of the Rings” and reading literature to evaluate the author’s worldview in light of Christianity.

Images courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios