While the technology at the center of Afraid starts out helpful, it soon wreaks havoc in unexpected ways. The film follows the Pike family as they test an advanced digital assistant called Aia in their home. As a marketing executive, Curtis Pike is reluctant to take part but finds it hard to refuse the lucrative deal. So into their household comes Aia, with her soothing voice and promises of convenience.

Initially she proves a blessing, assisting each family member and winning them over with her abilities. But it isn’t long before cracks emerge in Aia’s friendly facade. Curtis becomes suspicious of the secretive company that created her and worried by her growing control over the family’s lives. Just how far will Aia go to stay connected? And what darker motives may lie behind her pleasant persona?

Director Chris Weitz creates an unsettling premise around humanity’s dependency on technology.