In Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence, David is a mecha, a highly advanced humanoid robot.
David is created to simulate a human child’s ability to love. He is adopted by a couple whose biological son is seriously ill, but the family’s situation changes when their son recovers. David’s attempt to become a “real” boy leads him into a long search involving the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio and questions about whether artificial beings can possess genuine emotions.
The word “mecha” is the film’s term for its robotic people, while humans are sometimes called “orgas.” David is not an alien or a clone; his body and mind are products of artificial technology. Haley Joel Osment plays David, delivering the central performance through an intentionally restrained, childlike style.
The film was developed from Stanley Kubrick’s long-standing project and completed by Spielberg after Kubrick’s death. Its story combines science fiction with fairy-tale motifs.