The Real Reason A.I. is Banned in DUNE While Space Travel Exists

The Dune movie stands apart from other sci-fi films due to the absence of futuristic computer technology and A.I. Therefore one reason the dune universe might seem confusing partly stems from the inclusion of sophisticated technologies like space travel, protective shields, and spacecraft, contrasted with a complete absence of computers or screens. This discrepancy prompts the question of why, in a world otherwise rich in advanced technologies thats exists tens of thousands of years into the future, computers are nowhere to be found.

This deliberate exclusion of computers and artificial intelligence is thoroughly justified in the dune books however it’s not explained in the movie. The lack of computers in the dune universe ties directly to current real-world concerns about the rise of artificial intelligence. In 1965, Frank Herbert wrote "Dune," crafting a deeply complex and forward-thinking world within its pages. Demonstrating remarkable insight, he was able to predict and anticipate technological trends and societal changes for the next sixty years, even from that early standpoint. His novel not only stood as a work of science fiction but also as a foreseeing reflection on the future direction of technology and society.

Within the Dune universe: a particularly perplexing question arises: Why does a civilization capable of interstellar travel not utilize computers? Paul Atreides, for example, learns about the desert planet Arrakis using a primitive projector instead of the modern screens we are accustomed to. The absence of such technology leads to a deep exploration into Herbert's intricate universe, which spans millennia and explores the long-term consequences of historical decisions, well before Paul's time.

In essence, the absence of computers in the universe can be traced back to a pivotal period in society's history, during which the proliferation of computers and artificial intelligence led to societal collapse and sparked a revolution against the Thinking Machines. This upheaval, known as the Butlerian Jihad, paved the way for the emergence of a new techno-societal structure. In the aftermath, traditional computers were replaced by individuals known as mentats, who possessed extraordinary computational abilities.