Intelligent computers or digital slaves?

As a general rule of thumb, I try to write about a different topic in each of my monthly contributions to this Second Thoughts segment.

And I know it wasn't all that long ago that I penned a column exploring the potential downsides of artificial intelligence, but with the news late last year of Google's plans to open an AI research center in Beijing - and my own recent fact-finding filming trip around some of China's newest high-tech development hubs - I felt this was a subject well worth returning to.

This time, however, instead of wondering whether we'll make machines our masters, I'd like to touch upon a topic that's partly inspired by the recent run of Black Mirror episodes from international streaming giant Netflix.