Title Slide
Awards Slide
Controlling Idea
When everything is possible yet predetermined by AI, can anyone still make a difference?
"The reason we say that humans have free will is because we can't predict what they will do."
Comparisons and Inspiration Slide
Westworld
Blade Runner 2049
The Matrix
Ender’s Game
Lord of the Rings
Avatar
Harry Potter
Mr. Robot
Logline Slide
When AI uses history to shape humanity's future, a resilient young boy's struggle for identity and autonomy maybe the key to preserving free will for all.
Story Slide
Janus Nasim, a young boy from rural Texas, is thrust into the AI-controlled Atlas City. As he struggles to orient and adapt, he discovers he can see through the veil of Omni's influence. Will he conform, join the Outlanders, or use his unique skills to defend Atlas? Janus's journey becomes central to the future as he grapples with identity, history, and the nature of reality itself.
Omni
A near Omniscient AI designed to optimize human existence through historical analysis and predictive modeling, Omni's influence extends into every aspect of citizens' lives via STEM. Its true nature and ultimate goals remain a subject of intense debate and growing concern.
Atlas City
A vast, new, AI controlled metropolis for the best and brightest. The city is enclosed by an expandable "Curtain" wall. The city is constantly growing and absorbing surrounding areas.
STEM
A STEM is an advanced neural interface device worn at a citizen's temple, seamlessly connecting them to Omni. These devices enable constant first person monitoring of actions, and overlay perception with augmented reality and even fully virtual reality.
Department of Objective Record
DOOR is a prominent Atlas organization responsible for digitizing and aligning all of human history on a single objective timeline, enabling Omni to project a perfect future.
Retro-Active Management
Atlas City's enforcement division, RAM agents are equipped with cutting-edge technology to detect and neutralize threats to the established narrative. As the front line in Atlas's mission for peace, RAM embodies the tension between security and freedom in a time where the present and past are under control.
The Vortex
A quasi-religious institution promoting the idea of breaking the cycle of repeated history.
Janus
A curious, resilient kid, Janus’s unique ability to see beyond the AI’s influence makes him a potential key to either salvation or revolution.
Aether
Polymath turned paranoid recluse, Grandpa Aether becomes Janus's reluctant guardian. His fierce resistance to Atlas shapes Janus's worldview, catalyzing the boy's journey.
Yorik
Yorik is Aether’s witty, observant, homemade robotic companion. Outdated but insightful, Yorik plays a crucial role in supporting Janus and offers a unique perspective on the ongoing conflict between human autonomy and artificial intelligence.
Serena
An enigmatic ‘social worker’ with ambiguous loyalties, Serena’s efforts to bring Janus to Atlas set the story in motion. Her complex character challenges us to question allegiance in a world of blurred realities.
Zara
A brilliant Atlas STEM tech with ambiguous loylaties. Zara's insider position yeilds crucial intelligence, while her growing doubts about Atlas's methods fuel her internal conflict.
Quincy / Portun
Raz
A fiercely competitive peer shaped by a tragic past on an Oklahoma reservation. Raz's antagonistic relationship with Janus evolves as they face common challenges, revealing her hidden layers of loyalty and ambition.
Erek Re
The determined leader of Retro-Active Management (RAM), Erek is driven by an unwavering belief in the system. His scrutiny of Janus and pursuit of the Outlanders drives tension throughout the series.