What TRON: Ares Teaches Families About AI, Life, and Technology

Jumping off from TRON: Legacy, TRON: Ares sends a message to families about AI, technology, and life itself

If there’s any movie that tackles the philosophical relevance of technology in life, it’s the TRON film series. TRON: Ares is no different. It points out what reality is like now: tech giants fighting for dominance. People relying on AI to get things done. Everyone now wondering, “Who will truly pave the way for the era of AI?”

Beyond its linear plot and flashy neon lights, the sci-fi movie is best enjoyed by reading in between the lines. The latest installment in the TRON film series sends messages about the implications of technology and life that families need to know as they survive today’s digitized world.

Messages for families from TRON: Ares

“AI is a tool; morality and feelings are still within human domains.”

While AI has made life a lot easier, we often look down on those who rely on it. But the ethical use of AI isn’t that simple: what if it was designed to help ease the burden of the healthcare industry? To solve world hunger and bypass the very laws of the seasons that destroy crops?

This message is the fuel for the fight and chase for the permanence code between Dillinger Industries and ENCOM. Julian Dillinger woos the military (obviously where the money is) and Eve Kim uses it to transform bits of code into something organic. Although she originally wanted to entrust fate of the permanence code to ENCOM, she decides to remain to guide its use.

“Be careful how you prompt AI.”

AI’s not human, but it’s easy to think it is especially when it gives the validation we desperately crave.

Ares and Athena, two AIs created by Julian Dilinger, demonstrate that. While Ares (played by Jared Leto) is hailed as the “most advanced” AI, he also came with a caveat: he started to ignore his directive. He was learning and evolving.

As TRON: Ares progresses, it demonstrates how AI is trained and programmed. When Ares is sent to hack into the ENCOM mainframe to retrieve Eve’s data, in a sense, he was “trained” and “programmed” by Eve which is probably why he also ignored Julian’s directive. He got curious after reading everything about Eve.

Athena represents how AI only understands the “surface” of words. When Julian gives her the command to “do everything necessary to retrieve the permanence code from Eve,” Athena unleashes destruction. As an AI, she doesn’t understand the use of exaggeration nor the feeling of desperation.

“We recognize the beauty of permanence through impermanence.”

When Ares is sent to retrieve the “permanence code” from Kevin Flynn’s server, he speaks to the programmer who started the whole mess. The latter then says he never liked the name “permanence” for the code. “In fact, I think it’s better being called impermanence,” he says.

Throughout the movie, it’s a race for permanence. The transpose what it’s in the digital realm into the real world—to achieve what is only possible through divinity or long hours: creation. But when something lasts forever, can we still appreciate it? Or, will we eventually take it for granted because we know it will always be there?

“Directive and purpose are two different things.”

When Ares and Athena clash for the final battle, they represent two things: directive and purpose—two words that are often interchanged because they are synonymous to the word: goal.

But philosophically, it goes deeper than that. A directive, something Athena believed was her purpose, was something she chased faithfully. It’s why she did exactly as Julian told her to do: retreive the permanence code. Failure was not an option. “Do every means necessary.”

Ares, throughout the movie, grapples with the two words. He begins to understand directive as an order from the programmer and as “master control.” Purpose eventually begins to offer a different meaning to him when he tells Athena that “they [directive and purpose] are two different things.”

Should families watch TRON: Ares?

Honestly, TRON: Ares is a good watch for families who need a foundation to start talking to their kids about the ethical use of technology. Sure, it’s hard to find it under all the neon lights and battles. But, the philosophy is there: it’s so easy to get swept away by the convenience of technology that we forget that our work also requires soul.

So, for families who want to watch, the movie already started showing in cinemas last October 8, 2025. Catch it now while you still can!

Here’s the trailer if you want to know what to expect:

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