This 58-Year-Old Star Trek Episode Hits Different In 2026
By Published Apr 19, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT
Faith Roswell is a Senior Writer on Screen Rant's Classic TV team. Since earning her degree in Creative Writing over a decade ago, Faith has written articles on film and TV from a variety of different angles. Faith now combines her knowledge of psychology with her love of monster movies to give more insight into what makes the best ones.
You may have read her Screen Rant lists and features covering horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, or read her Amazon Top 10 book, "Movie Monsters of the Deep."
Faith has had an extensive career as a writer, appearing on BBC live radio, researching true crime for Rotten Mango podcast, and writing for publications including Mental Floss, Atlas Obscura, and The Daily Jaws before beginning here at Screen Rant.
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The original series of was a . The show pioneered diverse storytelling, brought sci-fi to a mainstream audience and popularized fandom culture through "Trekkie" conventions. The cultural impact of Star Trek cannot be overstated, and the fact that is still being written and expanded on today is a testament to the franchise's appeal over half a century later. That said, one aspect of the show that does not get as much attention is its uncanny ability to predict the future.
often used sci-fi to provide social commentary. Episodes like "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" explored the absurdity of bigotry, "A Private Little War" was a direct allegory for the Vietnam War, and many episodes explored what it means to be human. Many of these commentary episodes predicted positive social change, with modern viewers able to look back and see how far society has come in terms of inclusion and diversity. However, Star Trek episodes that explore the concept and misuse of AI hit differently in 2026.
Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Ultimate Computer" Perfectly Represents Today's AI Debate
The season 2 episode "The Ultimate Computer" finds the Enterprise being called to a space station for an experiment. The Enterprise is to host the M-5 Multitronic System, which is designed to handle all aspects of running the ship without interference from the crew. While Mr. Spock is impressed, other crew members, including Kirk, are not so sure. The episode shows the M-5 shutting down power, attacking other ships, , and causing havoc while its creator insists that it is acting normally before admitting that something has gone terribly wrong.
At the beginning, , with the computer replacing him as captain. Watching the episode in 2026 is a very different experience, considering the concern that AI replaces human jobs. With virtually every major company employing AI chatbots as a preliminary tech support, virtual assistant apps running on AI in place of a human, and AI being used to create art instead of employing artists and graphic designers, the concerns are valid. Even more concerning is the way in which the M-5 attacks other ships with Kirk and the crew helpless to stop it.
Some of Star Trek's more obvious social commentary debates touch on an issue that has not been fully realized yet, but "The Ultimate Computer" explores many of the debates a modern audience has when discussing AI. This includes the loss of jobs as well as losing the ability to think for ourselves. The episode used Kirk's talent for logic and debate as the solution, forcing the M-5 to power itself down after acknowledging that it did not save human life, but it remains to be seen whether logic will be the solution to the AI issues of today.
"The Ultimate Computer" Introduced A Key Part Of Star Trek Lore
, but few have had as much impact on the franchise as Dr. Richard Daystrom. While Daystrom invented the computer system used in Federation starships, including the Enterprise, he is also responsible for the M-5, which he had implanted with his own memory engrams. Instead of making the M-5 think like a human, this made it dangerous and out of control. Daystrom is a fascinating figure, with both his genius and his instability warring for control of his mind.
Richard Daystrom only appeared in this single episode of Star Trek.
Despite having a breakdown in "The Ultimate Computer" and being sent to a rehabilitation facility for treatment, . He is known for being a pioneer of new technology, with The Daystrom Institute being named after him. This is the Federation research facility that explores scientific advancements but especially cybernetics. Star Trek: Picard even has its Daystrom Station, which is home to some cryptic secrets. As Star Trek often explores time travel, it is possible, and even likely, that the show might revisit the iconic character and his foreshadowing creation.
Star Trek is one of pop culture's biggest multimedia franchises, spanning multiple movies, TV shows, books, comics, video games, and various other media. The franchise was created by Gene Roddenberry and started with the 1960s TV series starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy. Over the decades, several equally popular series have come out since as Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Discovery.
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