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Comment by ortusdux | Hacker News Reader

IIRC, the original conceit of the Matrix was that the computers were using the humans brains as computers. That is why they are fed and kept in a dream state - so the remaining 95% of their brain power is free to be used. This also explains how Neo can gain superpowers by unlocking his full potential.

The studio reportedly forced the change to 'humans as batteries', which in my opinion is much worse (why not cows?). I have zero proof, but I think they were concerned about overlap with a famous series of sifi novels that I won't spoil by naming, but that is currently being produced by Bradley Cooper at Warner Brothers.

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> IIRC, the original conceit of the Matrix was that the computers were using the humans brains as computers. That is why they are fed and kept in a dream state - so the remaining 95% of their brain power is free to be used.

Modernized update: Training data generators for the runaway OpenAI.

I always thought that would make more sense. Reminds me of some flavor text from the game Cruelty Squad:

Ticker: BRN

Name: Brain

Description: Raw material used by the AI industry

https://crueltysquad.fandom.com/wiki/Parts#BRN_-_Brain

Now that's a subject that can put a brain to work.

What is that movie/series/book all about? What does it mean? etc

The battery is a play on earlier Duracell ads. The bunny is also there. Which themselves play on the idea of the rabbit hole. It also interweaves with Toy Story from the same time period in a weird way.

It's funny how movies from the same rough period seem to be all similar underneath. Doesn't matter the studio, the director, the concept. All of it can be tied together.

It reminds me of the idea of the Gustav Gun. A giant slow ballistic trajectory launcher of projectiles on pre-laid railroads that can shoot stuff across the sea.

> It's funny how movies from the same rough period seem to be all similar underneath.

The Matrix, The Thirteenth Floor, Dark City, eXistenZ... there was definitely something in the air at the close of the 90s.

Wait, are you connecting them only by overall aesthetics?

There's more to it than that.

OK. Thanks for explaining that. Using the human body as batteries for power has NEVER made sense to me. I suspected it was something involved with our brains. That makes it more "believable".

> I think they were concerned about overlap with a famous series of sifi novels that I won't spoil by naming, but that is currently being produced by Bradley Cooper at Warner Brothers.

That may be a coincidence. That movie deal wasn't announced until 2009 - I'd be surprised if they'd had it cooking for 10+ years before saying anything about it.

I remember waiting for either the third or fourth page book of that series to release when The Matrix came out and being like "Oh yeah, that's where this is going". Was a much better story for a movie than a series of 700 page doorstoppers.

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