As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in everyday decision-making, the upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy explores the consequences of placing judicial authority in the hands of technology. Rebecca Ferguson, who plays an AI judge named Judge Maddox in the film, says the premise feels uncomfortably close to the world we are already living in.
Rebecca Ferguson on playing an AI judge in Mercy, “AI is a fantastic tool, but it should be just that – a tool to aid humans, not an alternative to humans”
“Playing Judge Maddox, an AI who is on the cusp of human understanding, so near to consciousness and yet light years away from being human brings up many interesting questions,” Ferguson said. “We expect accuracy from technology, but more and more we need to question what the online world is telling us.”
Set in a near-future society where traditional courts have been replaced by an AI-run justice system, Mercy unfolds almost entirely during a single trial. Instead of witnesses or lawyers presenting arguments, decisions are driven by data pulled from the “LA Municipal Cloud,” a massive digital archive containing surveillance footage, personal device recordings, and other stored information.
Ferguson explains that her approach to the role was not about portraying a machine, but about examining the perception of neutrality often associated with technology. Judge Maddox is designed to be objective and emotionless, yet the film gradually challenges whether true impartiality is possible when systems are built and fed by human-created data.
“Artificial Intelligence is a fantastic tool, but it should always be just that — a tool to aid humans, not an alternative to humans,” Ferguson said. “This film highlights some of the ways relying on AI could go very wrong.”
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov, Mercy also experiments with storytelling form. Much of the narrative is presented through phone recordings, body cameras, drone footage, and surveillance feeds, reflecting a world where daily life is continuously monitored and archived.
At the centre of the story is Judge Maddox, whose calm authority begins to show subtle shifts as the trial progresses. As the AI appears to develop traces of something resembling empathy, the film raises broader questions around trust, control, and accountability in algorithm-driven systems.
“We’re handing over so much power to systems we don’t fully understand,” Ferguson noted. “And that’s where the danger lies.”
Mercy is set to release on January 23, 2026, in English and Hindi, by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Amazon MGM Studios.
Also Read: George R. R. Martin says A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is about Ser Duncan’s journey, not power politics
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2026 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
