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“Mere Mortals” Brings Pandora-Inspired AI Play to Edinburgh

8/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Producers bring “Mere Mortals” to Edinburgh Festival for its European premiere.
The play debuted in San Francisco in 2024 and explores AI through a Pandora myth.
Creator Barton says development focused on Pandora as an agent of change, not AI risks.
Barton notes the production frames AI as a modern Pandora’s box while emphasizing human connection.

History

Historical Context

Karel Capek’s 1920 play R.U.R., which premiered in Hradec Králové on 2 January 1921, coined the word ‘robot’ and was translated into thirty languages by 1923, shaping early 20th-century fears of mechanized labor. That legacy informs today’s ‘Mere Mortals’ theatrical production, which frames AI as a modern Pandora’s box, echoing Capek’s cautionary vision.

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Story summary

Producers bring “Mere Mortals” to Edinburgh Festival for its European premiere.
The play debuted in San Francisco in 2024 and explores AI through a Pandora myth.
Creator Barton says development focused on Pandora as an agent of change, not AI risks.
Barton notes the production frames AI as a modern Pandora’s box while emphasizing human connection.

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