The Pod Generation 2023

Set in a not-so-distant future in New York City, Rachel Novy finds herself in a serene dreamscape, envisioning the joys of motherhood. However, her real life is far from this peaceful fantasy, as the demands of her career leave little space for a traditional pregnancy. Despite the shared aspiration to start a family with her husband, Alvy, both their lives are heavily influenced by the pervasive presence of artificial intelligence in every facet, from their jobs to their home environment. Personal AI assistants orchestrate their daily schedules, while replicated nature pods serve as a substitute for authentic outdoor experiences.

Rachel, dedicated and efficient in her role at Pegazus, a leading tech company, receives a well-deserved promotion alongside a fascinating proposition: Pegazus will cover the hefty costs associated with childbirth through the innovative services of the Womb Center, a subsidiary aiming to combat the declining birth rates spurred by the significant physical and emotional impacts of childbirth. This staggering decline poses a threat to global population stability, making the Womb Center’s mission all the more critical. Their radical solution? Detachable remote wombs that resemble large eggs, enabling a new approach to conception.

Faced with this offer, Rachel is initially overwhelmed but views it as an incredible opportunity, especially when the Womb Center confirms her acceptance into their program. In stark contrast, Alvy, an ardent botanist, is devoted to living a life that remains untainted by technology. The couple must confront their profound differences stemming from their diverging attitudes towards modern advancements; while Rachel is open to the technology, Alvy is drawn to spending his time nurturing live plants, an increasingly rare sight in their urban surroundings.

Upon learning of Rachel’s enrollment in the Womb Center program, Alvy is taken aback, struggling to comprehend her independent decision to pursue an unconventional form of parenthood. His concerns extend beyond their misunderstanding, as he grapples with the implications of altering the natural childbirth process. Despite encouragement from Rachel’s friends and her AI therapist, Alvy’s resistance prevails until his deep affection for Rachel and her fervent desire for a child prompts him to reluctantly consent to the pod-based childbirth approach.

Over time, Alvy transitions from skepticism to a genuine fascination with the pod, developing a bond with the unborn child it carries, ultimately treating the pod as if it were his own child. Conversely, Rachel distances herself from the pod, burdened by doubts and yearning for the authentic experience of pregnancy. She faces judgment and hypocrisy from her colleagues when she brings the pod to work, as Alvy does.

As Rachel and Alvy’s concerns grow regarding the Womb Center’s changing stipulations—specifically, the company’s move to shorten the childbirth timeline to just 39 weeks due to increasing demand—they worry for their baby’s welfare amidst the rapid pace enforced by the organization. This worry drives them to the decision to secretly retrieve the pod from the Womb Center and take it to Alvy’s home on Shell Island, aware that the Center will actively search for it.

While Alvy mentors Rachel on the advantages of their new natural environment, they discover that Womb Center has severed its remote support as punishment for their actions, jeopardizing the baby’s safety by disabling the digital access to open the pod. In a desperate turn of events, they are compelled to forcefully open the pod themselves, delivering their son safely. The following morning, as Alvy and their infant rest peacefully, Rachel carefully returns the damaged pod to the Womb Center, cutting ties with its technological influence to embrace a life grounded in nature rather than artificial enhancements, cradling her newborn son at home.

In a thought-provoking mid-credits scene, the CEO of Pegazus appears on television, making baffling declarations about the future where children may choose their own parents, alluding to the company’s plans to integrate AI directly into human embryos to accelerate their development beyond the normal limits.