AI at the Poker Table: How TV and Film Depict the Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Games

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has shaken up many industries, and high-stakes gaming is no exception. Online poker, one of the most popular strategic games in the digital space, has seen its fair share of disruption from AI bots. But long before AI began infiltrating real-world games, Hollywood and television had already begun exploring the implications of intelligent machines in competitive scenarios.

In this article, we’ll take a cinematic journey to examine five movies and TV shows that depict AI’s impact on human competition, strategy, and control. We’ll explore how AI bots’ rise in online poker mirrors the themes depicted in these films and shows, creating a fascinating crossover between real life and fiction.

1. Ex Machina (2014): AI Outthinking Humans

Director: Alex Garland

In Ex Machina, we witness the chilling progression of AI’s intellect as a humanoid robot, Ava, is tested by a young programmer. The movie raises existential questions about AI’s capabilities and its potential to outsmart human creators. Ava, while appearing empathetic, uses manipulation, deception, and intelligence to outthink her human testers.

This portrayal of AI closely resembles what’s happening in high-stakes online poker today. AI bots designed for poker use Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategies to make perfect decisions, exploiting even the smallest human weaknesses. Much like Ava’s ability to predict and manipulate human behavior, these bots can process vast amounts of data to make decisions that give them an edge, leaving human players at a disadvantage.

In both poker and the film, AI presents an unsettling possibility—machines outperforming humans, not through brute force, but through cold, calculated strategies. This raises ethical questions about whether AI should be allowed to dominate spaces traditionally reserved for human intuition and intellect.

2. The Matrix (1999): Virtual Reality and AI Control

Directors: The Wachowskis

In The Matrix, the world is ruled by artificial intelligence, and human beings are trapped in a simulated reality. This iconic film touches on themes of control, simulation, and human agency—all governed by intelligent machines that have taken control of reality itself.

Much like The Matrix, the world of online poker can sometimes feel like a simulation, where the lines between human and machine players blur. Many players might not even realize they are up against AI bots while playing online poker. These bots, like the AI in The Matrix, operate in the background, quietly manipulating outcomes and making decisions far faster than any human could.

Just as Neo eventually learns to manipulate the Matrix to his advantage, poker players must develop strategies to counteract the dominance of AI bots. This echoes the real-world situation where poker sites are implementing new technologies to detect and counter AI interference in games, aiming to maintain fairness for human players.

3. Molly’s Game (2017): High-Stakes Poker and the Human Element

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Molly’s Game tells the true story of Molly Bloom, who ran an exclusive, high-stakes underground poker game. The film focuses on the psychological warfare that takes place at the poker table—players bluffing, reading each other’s tells, and relying on human intuition to win. In the film, the drama centers around the deeply human elements of poker: the tension, the mind games, and the personal stakes.

In contrast, the rise of AI in online poker threatens to strip away these human elements. AI bots, unlike human players, do not succumb to pressure or emotion. They play purely by the numbers, analyzing every possible outcome and making optimal decisions based on statistics alone.

This shift from human intuition to machine-driven logic raises concerns about the future of poker. Can the game survive if it’s reduced to a series of algorithmic decisions? While Molly’s Game highlights the emotion and excitement of high-stakes human competition, the increasing presence of AI bots in online poker raises the question of whether this element of the game can endure in the digital age. For many players, it’s this human factor—the unpredictability, the psychological tension—that makes poker more than just a numbers game.

4. WarGames (1983): AI in Competitive Strategy

Director: John Badham

In WarGames, a young hacker inadvertently accesses a U.S. military supercomputer and starts a global thermonuclear war simulation, believing it to be just a game. The computer, designed to win at all costs, quickly escalates the situation to a dangerous point, unable to distinguish between simulation and reality.

This film highlights how AI can sometimes treat high-stakes scenarios as just another game. In both WarGames and online poker, AI can perform complex calculations, anticipate moves, and adapt in ways that most human players can’t. The poker bots of today are programmed to make decisions based purely on probability and data, much like the AI in WarGames.

While in WarGames, the consequences of AI’s “game” are global destruction, in online poker, the consequences are more personal: loss of money, time, and, for many, the joy of competition. This parallel between AI’s use in gaming and in real-world scenarios underscores the risks associated with allowing machines to dominate decision-making processes.

5. Black Mirror (TV Series, 2011–present): The Dark Side of AI

Creator: Charlie Brooker

The dystopian anthology series Black Mirror often explores the darker consequences of technological advancement, and AI plays a prominent role in several episodes. In “Be Right Back,” for example, AI is used to simulate a deceased loved one, raising profound ethical questions about identity and manipulation. Another episode, “Hated in the Nation,” features AI-controlled bees used for mass surveillance and control.

These AI-driven scenarios feel eerily similar to the rise of bots in online poker. In both cases, AI operates subtly in the background, manipulating outcomes in ways that are difficult to detect. Just as the characters in Black Mirror are often unaware of AI’s influence on their lives until it’s too late, many poker players don’t realize they’re facing bots until they’ve already lost.

To address these growing threats, poker platforms are focusing on transparency and collaboration with their user base. By sharing information on how they detect AI bots and inviting player feedback, these platforms are working to restore trust. This partnership between poker platforms and players mirrors the moral lessons of Black Mirror—that unchecked AI can lead to unforeseen consequences, but human oversight and cooperation can help mitigate these risks.

Conclusion: The Future of AI in Poker and Film

The rise of artificial intelligence in online poker and its depiction in films like Ex Machina, The Matrix, Molly’s Game, WarGames, and Black Mirror offers a glimpse into the future of competitive gaming. These films raise important ethical questions about the role of AI in high-stakes environments and provide insight into how human players can adapt to these technological advancements.

As AI continues to evolve, both the gaming and film industries will need to address these questions head-on. Whether AI becomes a tool for enhancing human capabilities or a force that diminishes the human element of gaming will depend on how we choose to integrate it into our lives and games.