For nearly five decades, Victor Newman, a central figure on the long-running daytime drama "The Young and the Restless," has faced an array of harrowing challenges — from kidnappings and shootings to amnesia and heart transplant complications. Yet his latest adversary, an antagonistic artificial intelligence (A.I.) featured in a recent 10-month storyline, marked a distinct evolution in the show’s portrayal of conflict. The A.I. antagonist manipulated documents and falsified financial records, introducing viewers to a new type of threat rooted in emerging technology.

Hollywood has depicted A.I. in a variety of forms since the mid-20th century, ranging from menacing entities to trusted companions. Early portrayals often embraced a sense of novelty and fascination: Robby the Robot in 1956’s “Forbidden Planet” was an intelligent helper capable of complex tasks, while the animated series “The Jetsons” (1962) featured Rosie, a robot that functioned as a dry-witted household assistant. The science fiction films of the 1970s introduced beloved robotic characters like R2-D2 and C-3PO in “Star Wars,” emphasizing loyalty and humor over menace.

Television further expanded how A.I. was imagined. The 1964 sitcom “My Living Doll,” though dated in its gender assumptions, centered on a robot learning human behaviors in comedic fashion. The 1980s brought “Knight Rider,” where David Hasselhoff’s character partnered with KITT, an artificially intelligent car, to fight crime. This reflected a period when A.I. was often portrayed as an empowering and friendly technology.

However, not all depictions were optimistic. Increasingly during the Cold War era, narratives reflected anxieties about growing computer influence and potential loss of human control. Films such as “The Terminator” (1984) introduced the idea of A.I. as a hostile force, with Skynet initiating a deadly war on humanity. Similarly, the Cylons in “Battlestar Galactica” (1978) represented artificial beings intent on human extermination. Other stories emphasized the dangers of unchecked decision-making by machines, as in “WarGames” (1983), where a supercomputer misjudges the stakes of global conflict.

Some portrayals tapped into deeper fears regarding autonomy and control. The 1977 film “Demon Seed” presents a narrative in which a sentient supercomputer imprisons a woman to forcibly conceive a hybrid offspring — a plotline noted for its disturbing implications.

According to Andrew Maynard, a professor at Arizona State University who studies societal responses to emerging technologies, fewer than one-third of Hollywood's A.I. portrayals envision dystopian futures. Instead, popular culture has presented a complex and evolving image of artificial intelligence, ranging from trusted allies to existential threats. As A.I. becomes more integral to daily life, the industry’s expanding narratives continue to help shape public perception, balancing fascination with caution.