Haley Joel Osment, star of A.I. Artificial Intelligence, has spoken out about how he sees the movie’s conclusion, including whether David dies at the end.
The film, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, follows David Osment, a child-like artificial intelligence known as a Mecha, who is cared for by Henry and Monica Swinton. Even though it isn’t remembered as one of Spielberg’s best films, the ending is unique because it takes place two thousand years later when David spends one last day with a Monica made after humanity was killed.
Talking on The Song and dance webcast, Osment made sense of his translation of A.I. Man-made brainpower’s consummation, which sees David nod off close to the restored form of Monica as she bites the dust. The actor explains, beginning at 1:34:50, that despite the possibility that his character died at the end, he believes that the final scene is a hopeful but emotionally difficult conclusion. The following is what Osment had to say:
I don’t think [David] would see it that way, I think he just wants to go with [Monica] wherever she goes. And I don’t even know if I ever answered that question for myself because I just took it up to the decision he makes to get in bed and try and follow her, and be with her forever. And it’s a complicated feeling to go, “Okay, what’s the practical reality?” Like, does his battery run out? Does poor Teddy’s battery eventually run out? It’s a locked room, and you could give yourself some very dark and disturbing answers to that question, but I think I went into it with him feeling hopeful, and maybe feeling happier than he’s ever felt in his life, because he does get to be with her. That ending leaves you with some really complicated feelings, I think.
Why A.I. Artificial Intelligence’s Ending Is So Complex
Initially arranged out by Stanley Kubrick before his passing, A.I. Computerized reasoning recounts being genuine and feel love. Osment’s interpretation of the ending makes sense because David’s desire to follow Monica into death isn’t always a bad thing for the character, who had a perfect day with Monica. However, the possibility that he ended his relationship with her for good and died as a result complicates matters further. This complicates his final moments and allows for more room for interpretation, depending on what he actually chose to do.
His conflicted feelings regarding the possible hopeful ending are understandable given how much Osment stood out as a child actor in Spielberg’s film. However, despite the extinction of humanity and David’s likely shutting down in the final scene, his point of view also allows for a happy ending. Even though this means that his character might not have made it, he would have been with Monica forever if he had shut down at the end. In a bittersweet conclusion to the film, there is a possibility that he got what he wanted.
Even though David would get to live in the future with Teddy if he survived, his death would be just as contradictory because he would no longer have access to the world he loved except for his stuffed animal companion. However, he could use his knowledge of love to improve the world in Monica’s name if he did live in a new world full of machines. However, A.I. Artificial Intelligence’s conclusion, in which the Mecha child achieves his goal and fulfills his destiny, feels more definitive than that.
