This Thrilling, Edge-of-Your-Seat AI Sci-Fi Series Was Canceled Ahead of Its Time

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Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of almost everything we use. It’s spread rapidly in just the last few years, and it makes you wonder how long it will be before technology can create perfect human replicas. Interestingly, a lesser-known science fiction show on ABC explored this very idea a few years back.

The show *Emergence* aired for one season between 2019 and 2020. It followed a complex story involving artificial intelligence, wealthy and secretive figures, conspiracy theories, and hidden explanations for strange events. Despite positive reviews from both critics and viewers, the show was canceled after just one season, leaving viewers with unanswered questions and just as the plot was really getting interesting. *Emergence* wasn’t a typical science fiction show; it explored the possibilities of AI well before AI became a mainstream topic with tools like ChatGPT.

Perhaps the show *Emergence* didn’t gain much attention when it first aired because its ideas were a bit too forward-thinking for the time. It’s fascinating to think about the stories they could tell if it were on TV now! With all the current interest in artificial intelligence, *Emergence* is a great sci-fi show for fans to check out – or revisit. Let’s explore what made it so unique and why it’s worth watching today.

What Happens in ‘Emergence’?


ABC

In the new series *Emergence*, Allison Tolman plays Jo Evans, the police chief of a quiet town in New York. The story begins with a plane crash where Jo finds a single survivor: a young girl who was left all alone. Jo takes the girl, who she names Piper, under her wing. Soon after the crash, odd things start happening, and government investigators arrive, focusing on Piper. As Jo cares for her, Piper begins to act strangely, hinting that she may not be an ordinary child.

Throughout the show, Jo and her family work to keep Piper safe from those pursuing her, including a mysterious tech company called Augur Industries, founded by billionaire Richard Kindred. Augur is developing advanced AI – technology that was relatively new when the series began. While some employees worry about the dangers of this technology, others believe it could greatly help people. Their work includes trying to create fully conscious, human-like beings, and Piper is central to their experiments.

Though Jo’s family seemed to be moving towards a resolution with Piper by the end of the season, a final scene suggested that dangerous AI creations were still at large. Unfortunately, the show *Emergence* was cancelled by ABC after only one season, leaving that storyline unresolved. Despite positive reviews and a dedicated audience, it didn’t achieve the ratings the network hoped for. The series starred Zoey Tolman, along with Alexa Swinton, Donald Faison, Terry O’Quinn, and Clancy Brown.

‘Emergence’ Was Ahead of Its Time With AI


ABC

The show *Emergence* stood out from typical science fiction because it thoughtfully explored the idea of artificial intelligence becoming a lasting part of our everyday lives. While AI has been a topic in movies and books for years, it’s only recently become widely accessible to the public, with tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Perplexity launching just in the last couple of years. Since then, AI has rapidly advanced, now capable of tasks like answering questions, creating images and videos, and even potentially leading to medical breakthroughs. It makes you wonder if these advancements could be used for more meaningful purposes than just silly social media content. Considering how quickly AI has evolved in just two or three years, it’s not hard to imagine a future, as suggested by *Emergence*, where incredibly realistic AI duplicates of people might actually be possible sooner than we think.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is that it realistically looks at both the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence. It considers the possibility of AI becoming dangerous and uncontrollable, but also highlights its potential to provide companionship and connection for people who are lonely. The book doesn’t label AI as inherently good or bad, but rather acknowledges that it can be used for either positive or negative purposes. What’s remarkable is that it explored these ideas back in 2020, before the widespread use of chatbots, making it surprisingly prescient given how much the technology has changed in just a few years.

Imagine if the show *Emergence* premiered today. Its ideas about artificial intelligence wouldn’t feel so far-fetched. A company like Augur Industries might be more open about its AI research – if everyone’s already talking about AI, there’s less reason to hide things. But, there’s also a lot of public concern about AI now, and that could have created interesting drama and challenges for the show’s characters. Even with all the AI discussion happening today, there aren’t many shows that delve into the topic as deeply as *Emergence* did. That forward-thinking approach is what makes it a truly standout sci-fi series.

It’s unlikely this show will return – it was a short-lived series from several years ago, and most shows like that aren’t brought back. However, people interested in artificial intelligence – whether they’re fans or critics – might find it interesting to watch. It’s worth considering how accurately it predicted the future and what would be different if it were made today. Currently, you can’t stream *Emergence* for free, but episodes are available for purchase on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-10-19 05:54