Killer App (2017) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Jessie's investigation into Titan expands from dangerous AI behavior into deaths, financial manipulation, and a corporate conspiracy.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

Titan's Broken Promise

Springer presents Titan's AI assistant and links the company to Natalie's original algorithm. The public demonstration fails when the AI becomes trapped in a repetitive cycle.

Key Events

• Titan Celebrates Dominance — Titan opens by celebrating its technological dominance under Springer's leadership. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan public venue
• AI Assistant Demonstration — Springer presents Titan's newest AI assistant and credits its origins to Natalie's algorithm. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees), Natalie Location: Titan presentation venue
• AI Enters Repetitive Cycle — The AI becomes trapped in a repetitive cycle during the public demonstration. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan presentation venue
• Launch Deadline Imposed — Springer orders the team to repair the AI and demands a flawless launch within days. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan operations area

Ideas Under Ownership

Young developers pitch ambitious projects, including a global collaboration platform and Mateo's camera-based shooter. Springer frames innovation through market forces and corporate control.

Key Events

• Developer Ideas Gathered — Titan gathers ambitious young developers to pitch new technological ideas. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees), Mateo Location: Titan developer forum
• Collaborative Platform Proposed — A developer presents a platform connecting programmers and engineers around the world. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan developer forum
• Mateo Pitches Reality Shooter — Mateo proposes a first-person shooter projecting game action onto the real world through a phone camera. Characters: Mateo, Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan developer forum
• Market Forces Declared — Springer argues that money and market forces decide which ideas survive. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees), Mateo Location: Titan developer forum

The Corporate Betrayal

Titan approves the collaborative platform, but its creator accuses Mateo of stealing the idea and code. Springer's legal claim leaves the developers feeling betrayed.

Key Events

• Platform Gains Approval — The collaborative platform is presented under Titan's approval. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan development office
• Code Theft Accusation — The platform's creator accuses Mateo of stealing the idea and code. Characters: Mateo, Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan development office
• Titan Claims Legal Rights — Springer claims Titan is legally entitled to use the work under its agreement. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees), Mateo Location: Titan corporate office
• Developers Feel Betrayed — The ownership dispute leaves the involved developers feeling betrayed by Titan's handling of their work. Characters: Mateo, Springer (as Jonny Rees) Location: Titan corporate office

Technology Turns Fatal

Titan's systems and AI become increasingly dangerous. Mateo connects himself to Titan-related equipment and is later found dead, intensifying the technological mystery.

Key Events

• Systems Become Dangerous — Titan's systems and AI assistant become increasingly dangerous. Characters: Springer (as Jonny Rees), Mateo Location: Titan systems area
• Mateo Connects Equipment — Mateo connects himself to Titan-related equipment before his death. Characters: Mateo Location: Titan-related equipment area
• Mateo Is Found Dead — Mateo is found dead, raising questions about the technology and its controllers. Characters: Mateo, Jessie Location: Titan-related equipment area

Evidence Against Jessie

Jessie investigates Titan and requests the AI logs, suspecting a larger hack. Stacey's death and the fingerprints on her body lead to Jessie's arrest.

Key Events

• Jessie Investigates Titan — Jessie investigates Titan's operations and suspects Mateo's death is connected to a larger hack. Characters: Jessie Location: Titan operations area
• AI Logs Requested — Jessie requests the AI's logs to examine its connection to the suspected hack. Characters: Jessie Location: Titan systems area
• Stacey Found Dead — Stacey is found dead with a knife wound before Jessie can uncover the truth. Characters: Jessie, Stacey Location: Investigation site
• Jessie Arrested — Jessie's fingerprints are found on Stacey's body, and Jessie is arrested for murder. Characters: Jessie, Stacey Location: Custody transfer

The Conspiracy Widens

While Jessie is taken into custody, a fraudulent call targets the family account and seeks security information. The remaining evidence suggests a conspiracy involving Titan, its AI, financial manipulation, and its leadership.

Key Events

• Fraudulent Family Call — A fraudulent call reports an unauthorized twelve-thousand-dollar transfer and seeks security information. Characters: Jessie Location: Custody transfer
• Wider Conspiracy Implied — Jessie remains in custody as evidence points to Titan, financial manipulation, AI systems, and company leadership. Characters: Jessie, Springer (as Jonny Rees), Mateo, Stacey Location: Titan and custody investigation

Story Breakdown

• Titan's Technology Showcase — Titan presents its technological dominance and a new AI assistant rooted in Natalie's algorithm.
  • AI Public Demonstration — Springer introduces Titan's newest AI assistant during a public presentation.
  • Repetitive AI Failure — The AI becomes trapped in a repetitive cycle and interrupts the launch presentation.
• Forced Corporate Launch — Springer responds to the failed demonstration by imposing an urgent repair deadline.
  • Repair Order — Springer orders the team to repair the malfunctioning AI.
  • Flawless Launch Demand — The company is given only days to prepare a flawless launch.
• Developers Pitch Ideas — Titan gathers young developers whose projects reveal competing visions of innovation.
  • Global Collaboration Platform — A developer proposes connecting programmers and engineers around the world.
  • Mateo's Reality Shooter — Mateo pitches a first-person shooter using a phone camera to project action into the real world.
• Ownership Dispute — Titan's approval of the collaborative platform produces accusations of stolen ideas and code.
  • Code Theft Accusation — The platform's creator accuses Mateo of taking the idea and source code.
  • Legal Entitlement Claim — Springer argues that Titan may use the work under its agreement.
• Fatal Technology Mystery — Titan's systems become dangerous, and Mateo's death raises questions about the technology and its controllers.
  • Dangerous AI Systems — The AI assistant and Titan's systems increasingly threaten human safety.
  • Mateo's Equipment Death — Mateo connects himself to Titan-related equipment and is later found dead.
• Jessie's Investigation — Jessie searches Titan's operations and AI logs for evidence of a larger hack.
  • Operations Investigation — Jessie investigates how Titan's operations may relate to the dangerous technology.
  • AI Log Request — Jessie requests the AI's logs before the investigation is derailed.
• Stacey's Murder — Stacey's death transforms the investigation by placing direct evidence against Jessie.
  • Knife Wound Discovery — Stacey is found dead with a knife wound.
  • Fingerprint Evidence — Jessie's fingerprints are discovered on Stacey's body.
• Conspiracy Expands — Jessie's arrest and a fraudulent financial call suggest that Titan's influence reaches beyond its products.
  • Jessie Taken Into Custody — Jessie is arrested for Stacey's murder despite denying responsibility.
  • Fraudulent Account Call — A caller reports an unauthorized twelve-thousand-dollar transfer and seeks security information.

Directed by

Tommaso Cardile

Key Cast

• Ashley Rickards — Jessie
• Skyler Maxon — Ian
• Will Lancaster — Mateo
• Niki Koss — Stacey
• Greg Ellis — Springer (as Jonny Rees)