
Upgrade – Better than the rest of STEM
Jesus Robot take the wheel! Join us as we immerse ourselves in the not so future of Upgrade from the brain child of the SAW franchise, Leigh Whannell. Naturally (or unnaturally) there’s talks about robots, manually overriding systems and always in for a good time with a Blumhouse produced film.The post Upgrade – Better than the rest of STEM appeared first on For Your Reference.
Hosted By
KT & Oti
For Your Reference
Show Notes
Jesus Robot take the wheel! Join us as we immerse ourselves in the not so future of Upgrade from the brain child of the SAW franchise, Leigh Whannell. Naturally (or unnaturally) there’s talks about robots, manually overriding systems and always in for a good time with a Blumhouse produced film.
Summary
How far has Logan Marshall‑Green come since we saw him in 24 as Richard Heller?

Source: 24.fandom.com
STEM, an AI chip that get’s implanted into Logan to help him gain control of his limbs after his spinal chord got fractured. We are introduced to Logan as a “man’s man”, eager to resist what society has readily embraced…technology.
It paints a picture of a society flirting with dystopianism where the privileged are so reliant on technology for everything, from driving to making pizza and at the end of the extreme spectrum a people deprived of the advancements technology has afforded the affluent.
Breakdown and Analysis
- Is society ready for AI on STEM’s level
- Small budget, big performances
- Practical effects vs CGI
- How amazing are Australian produced/directed films
For your reference
KT’s picks
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Oti’s picks
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Referenced

KT's Picks
Referenced in this episode
Humans
"Humans is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a Synth - a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover that sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences."
The Matrix
"Thomas A. Anderson is a man living two lives. By day he is an average computer programmer and by night a hacker known as Neo. Neo has always questioned his reality, but the truth is far beyond his imagination. Neo finds himself targeted by the police when he is contacted by Morpheus, a legendary computer hacker branded a terrorist by the government. As a rebel against the machines, Neo must confront the agents: super-powerful computer programs devoted to stopping Neo and the entire human rebellion."

Oti's Picks
Referenced in this episode
Venom
"After a faulty interview with the Life Foundation ruins his career, former reporter Eddie Brock's life is in pieces. Six months later, he comes across the Life Foundation again, and he comes into contact with an alien symbiote and becomes Venom, a parasitic antihero."
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
"After a shadowy black ops team kidnaps several scientists security manager Adam Jensen was sworn to protect, he must harness the power of his new-found cybernetic augmentations to save their lives."
Episode Details
- Duration
- 0:00
- Released
- December 25, 2020
- Category
- Episode
- Hosts


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