The best examples of examples of the role of technology in science fiction

If you want real examples of the role of technology in science fiction, start with how these stories feel on the page.

In Isaac Asimov’s _I, Robot_, technology isn’t just a backdrop; it’s the main character. The famous Three Laws of Robotics turn every story into a courtroom drama between logic, ethics, and human fear. The robots are technically obedient, yet their obedience exposes how sloppy human morality can be. This is a classic example of the role of technology in science fiction: use a shiny new machine (the robot) to expose a very old problem (our contradictions).

Jump forward to _Black Mirror_. Pick an episode like “Nosedive,” where social rating apps dictate your job, housing, and even friendships. The tech itself is simple—likes, ratings, and an augmented reality interface—but it’s weaponized by social pressure. That’s one of the best examples of how near‑future technology in science fiction doesn’t have to be wild or distant; it just nudges existing systems a few inches further until they snap.

These examples of examples of the role of technology in science fiction show a pattern: the gadget is rarely the point. The consequences are.

Classic examples of the role of technology in science fiction: robots, space, and surveillance

When people ask for the best examples of the role of technology in science fiction, the classics come up first, and for good reason—they built the blueprint.

Asimov’s robots and the birth of AI ethics

Asimov’s robots are an early example of how science fiction can shape real research. His Three Laws of Robotics are so influential that you’ll still find them referenced in modern AI ethics discussions and computer science courses. Universities like MIT and Harvard regularly use science fiction to frame conversations about AI responsibility and bias in their ethics and technology classes (see, for example, course materials and discussions on ethics and tech from Harvard University).

In _I, Robot_ and the wider Robot and Foundation series, technology is treated as both a tool and a mirror. Robots care for humans, manage factories, and even run planetary economies. Yet the stories keep coming back to a basic question: if we build something to serve us perfectly, what happens when we are the problem? This is a powerful example of the role of technology in science fiction as a way to explore responsibility and unintended consequences.

_1984_ and the technology of control

George Orwell’s _1984_ might not have flashy spaceships, but it’s one of the clearest examples of how technology in science fiction can be terrifyingly simple. Telescreens, microphones, and constant surveillance create a world where privacy is impossible and truth is flexible.

What makes this an enduring example of the role of technology in science fiction is not the devices themselves, but how they’re used to rewrite reality. In 2024–2025, with debates over facial recognition, data privacy, and algorithmic tracking, _1984_ feels less like a distant warning and more like a cautionary manual.

_Star Trek_: optimistic tech as a moral test

Then you have _Star Trek_, which offers some of the best examples of technology as a hopeful, exploratory force. Replicators eliminate hunger, transporters erase distance, and the medical bay can heal injuries in seconds. The show treats technology as a way to remove scarcity so that the real conflicts are about culture, politics, and ethics.

What’s interesting is how many _Star Trek_ inventions have rough real‑world equivalents now. Communicators look like early flip phones; the ship’s computer feels like a smarter, sassier version of a voice assistant. NASA has even discussed how science fiction inspires real engineering ideas (NASA’s educational resources often mention science fiction in outreach and classroom materials). This is a great example of science fiction and real science feeding each other.

Darker examples of examples of the role of technology in science fiction: when progress bites back

Not all stories are optimistic. Some of the most memorable examples of the role of technology in science fiction are basically long, beautifully written warnings.

_Frankenstein_: the original “we built it, now what?” story

Mary Shelley’s _Frankenstein_ is often called the first modern science fiction novel. No lasers, no spaceships—just a scientist, some questionable experiments, and a creature who never asked to exist. It’s a timeless example of how technology in science fiction is often about responsibility more than capability.

Victor Frankenstein’s sin isn’t creating life; it’s abandoning his creation. That same theme shows up in modern AI debates: if we build systems that learn from us, whose values are they really following? Researchers in AI ethics and public policy regularly point out that the real risk isn’t just what machines can do, but how humans choose to design, deploy, and regulate them (see discussions from organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology).

_The Matrix_ and simulated reality

In _The Matrix_, humanity lives inside a simulated world controlled by machines. It’s one of the best examples of the role of technology in science fiction as a philosophical playground. Are we sure our reality is real? If a virtual world feels authentic, does it matter?

Today, with VR headsets, AR filters, and persistent online worlds, _The Matrix_ hits differently. We already spend huge chunks of our lives in digital spaces. The movie’s red‑pill/blue‑pill choice is a sharp example of how science fiction uses technology to ask: what are we willing to trade for comfort, convenience, or entertainment?

_Black Mirror_: everyday tech, worst‑case futures

_**Black Mirror**_ might be the most recognizable modern example of examples of the role of technology in science fiction. Episodes like:

• “The Entire History of You,” where people can rewind and replay every moment of their lives
• “Be Right Back,” where a grieving woman uses an AI clone of her dead partner
• “Hated in the Nation,” where robotic bees are hacked and weaponized

These aren’t distant, magical devices. They’re slightly exaggerated versions of what we already have: digital archives, chatbots, drones, and social media. That’s what makes the show such a sharp example of the role of technology in science fiction—it magnifies familiar tools until we can’t ignore the trade‑offs.

Near-future and 2020s examples of the role of technology in science fiction

If the classics built the foundation, recent stories show how fast our definition of “science fiction” is shifting.

_Her_ and intimate AI

In _Her_, Theodore falls in love with an AI operating system named Samantha. There are no killer robots, no evil corporations—just a lonely man and a very attentive, rapidly evolving AI.

This film is one of the best examples of the role of technology in science fiction as an emotional catalyst. It asks whether relationships with non‑human intelligence can be meaningful, and what it means for humans when our tools become better at understanding us than we are at understanding ourselves.

In the 2024–2025 world of large language models, chatbots, and AI companions, _Her_ feels strikingly current. Mental health researchers and clinicians are already studying how digital tools and AI chat systems affect loneliness, social behavior, and well‑being (see resources from the National Institutes of Health). The line between “assistant,” “companion,” and “partner” is getting blurrier.

_The Expanse_: gritty, realistic space tech

_The Expanse_ series (books and TV) offers one of the strongest modern examples of technology as world‑building. Epstein drives, asteroid mining rigs, Martian terraforming projects, and Belter engineering hacks all create a lived‑in, industrial future.

The show’s tech is grounded and often dirty: failing life‑support systems, underfunded ships, and improvised repairs. This is a great example of examples of the role of technology in science fiction where the focus is less on “Can we invent it?” and more on “Who gets to use it, and at what cost?” The series leans into labor politics, resource scarcity, and colonial power structures—all filtered through engineering and physics.

_Ready Player One_ and the escape into virtual worlds

In _Ready Player One_, the OASIS virtual universe is where people work, play, and escape a collapsing real world. The story is an example of how technology in science fiction can be both a distraction and a battleground. The OASIS offers freedom and creativity, but it’s also controlled by corporations and vulnerable to exploitation.

With the rise of the so‑called “metaverse,” virtual concerts, and online economies, _Ready Player One_ has become a real example of how science fiction anticipates cultural shifts. It captures a core question: if our virtual lives become more appealing than our physical ones, what happens to the world we leave behind?

Bio-tech, body hacks, and the blurred line between human and machine

Some of the most memorable examples of examples of the role of technology in science fiction focus on the body itself: what counts as human when we start editing, upgrading, and replacing parts of ourselves?

_Neuromancer_ and cyberpunk implants

William Gibson’s _Neuromancer_ helped define cyberpunk: jacked‑in hackers, neural interfaces, and body modifications. Characters swap out organs, enhance their reflexes, and interface directly with cyberspace.

This is a classic example of the role of technology in science fiction as identity surgery. The tech changes not just what people can do, but how they see themselves. Are you still “you” if half your body and your memories are augmented, edited, or backed up?

In the real world, we’re not far off from some of these questions. Brain‑computer interfaces, advanced prosthetics, and gene‑editing tools like CRISPR are active areas of research. Bioethics organizations and public health agencies, such as the National Human Genome Research Institute, regularly address questions that sound straight out of a sci‑fi writer’s notebook.

_Gattaca_ and genetic discrimination

In _Gattaca_, children are genetically engineered for perfection, and society quietly sorts people into “valid” and “in‑valid” based on their DNA. The tech is subtle but devastating: a quick blood or skin test determines your job prospects, social status, and future.

This film is one of the clearest examples of the role of technology in science fiction as a warning about inequality. It’s not the gene‑editing itself that’s portrayed as evil; it’s how society uses it to formalize prejudice. That’s a real example of a concern bioethicists and policymakers wrestle with today, as genetic testing and editing become more accessible.

Why these examples matter in 2024–2025

So why spend time on all these examples of examples of the role of technology in science fiction when we have real tech news every day?

Because science fiction gives us a safe place to rehearse the future.

When you read _1984_, you start noticing how often your phone asks for permissions. After _Black Mirror_, a new social app doesn’t look quite as harmless. Watch _Her_, and you might think differently about how you talk to AI tools or what you expect from them emotionally.

Researchers, engineers, and policymakers pay attention to these stories too. Universities use novels and films in ethics courses. Tech companies hire science fiction writers as consultants to help imagine long‑term consequences. Public institutions and agencies rely on scenario planning that often borrows directly from science‑fictional thinking when they consider emerging technologies and their impact on society.

These stories don’t predict the future perfectly. But they give us language, metaphors, and vivid examples of the role of technology in science fiction that we can use when reality starts to rhyme with imagination.

FAQ: examples of technology in science fiction, answered

Q: What are some of the best examples of the role of technology in science fiction for beginners?
If you’re just starting, strong entry points include _I, Robot_ (AI and ethics), _1984_ (surveillance tech), _Star Trek_ (optimistic exploration), _Black Mirror_ (near‑future digital life), and _Her_ (intimate AI). Each one gives a different example of how technology can shape society, identity, and power.

Q: Which stories offer realistic, near‑future examples of technology in sci‑fi?
_Ex Machina_, _Her_, many _Black Mirror_ episodes, and _The Expanse_ are good bets. Their technologies—advanced AI, social media extensions, realistic space travel—are close enough to current research that they feel like previews rather than fantasies.

Q: Can you give an example of science fiction that inspired real technology?
_Star Trek_ communicators inspired early mobile phones, and its tablets look a lot like modern touchscreens. Concepts like virtual reality, video calls, and voice assistants all appeared in science fiction long before they hit the market. NASA and other agencies openly acknowledge that science fiction helps spark public imagination and interest in space and technology.

Q: Are there examples of science fiction that focus on the health effects of technology?
Yes. Stories about cybernetic implants, genetic engineering (_Gattaca_), and AI in caregiving (_Robot & Frank_, certain _Black Mirror_ episodes) all explore health, disability, and medical ethics. In real life, organizations like the NIH and Mayo Clinic track how new medical technologies affect patient outcomes, access, and ethics—topics that science fiction often explores through dramatic narratives.

Q: Why do so many examples of technology in science fiction look dystopian?
Dystopias make for gripping storytelling. They exaggerate risks so we can see them clearly. But there are plenty of hopeful examples too—_Star Trek_, Becky Chambers’ novels, and parts of _The Expanse_ show collaboration, curiosity, and progress. The mix of hopeful and dark stories gives us a wider range of possible futures to think about.

In the end, the best examples of the role of technology in science fiction aren’t just about gadgets. They’re about us—our fears, our hopes, and our tendency to build tools faster than we learn how to live with them.