Top documentaries about tech: Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO

"Times change, and so does technology. Progress moves so quickly that we may not even notice new inventions as they become integrated into our daily lives. However, is it a good thing that technology is developing so rapidly? Should we try to slow it down, or should we continue diving into new gadgets, software, and AI-powered services? No one can say for certain. Nonetheless, we can continue to learn about technology and try to understand where the virtual world is headed and where it may lead

Cryptopia: Bitcoin, Blockchains, and the Future of the Internet (2020)

This is a controversial movie for those interested in cryptocurrencies, how it works, and their future. The award-winning filmmaker Torsten Hoffmann talks to inventors behind Bitcoin, Blockchains, etc., to learn more and discover this curious technology's hidden details. Watch it on Amazon Prime.

Coded Bias (2020)

This Netflix documentary digs into facial recognition algorithms to discover more about their advantages and flaws. The movie investigates how this technology can be sexist and even racist, how large global companies use it, why it is dangerous and why it can affect people in a good and bad way. Watch "Coded Bias" on Netflix.

The Social Dilemma (2020)

"We tweet, we like, and we share— but what are the consequences of our growing dependence on social media?",– these are logical and topical questions that the authors of "The Social Dilemma" documentary ask. How does our dependency on technology influence our mental health? How do algorithms nudge us to make certain decisions? How do we often see only one side of the problem because of disinformation on social media? The movie features opinions, interviews, meetings, and insights from professionals working with technology today. Watch "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix.

I Am Human (2019)

A curious film about how technology is stepping into medicine, ethics, and aesthetics, and what will happen from all this. The plot follows the journeys of a hospital-bound tetraplegic, a blind retiree, and an artist with Parkinson's disease while they receive cutting-edge brain implants. As the story unfolds, viewers find the answer to what our world will be like in the future. Watch "I Am Human" on Amazon Prime.

The Great Hack (2019)

The Netflix documentary about the 2018 scandal happened with Cambridge Analytica, the private consulting company engaged in collecting and analyzing data from Facebook users. It influenced the 2016 U.S. presidential elections and Brexit. An interesting approach to data safety and Internet users' vulnerability online. Watch "The Great Hack" on Netflix.

Do You Trust This Computer? (2018)

AI technology is all around us: it lives at home with us, often helps us at work, and even plans travels with us. The documentary "Do You Trust This Computer?" directed by Chris Paine, outlines the advantages and dangers of artificial intelligence. It also features insightful interviews with Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil, Jonathan Nolan, and others. Watch "Do You Trust This Computer?" on Amazon Prime.

General Magic (2018)

"General Magic" is a fascinating documentary about our world nowadays seen by scientists and engineers from 1994. Not many people know there was a secret start-up called General Magic in Silicon Valley in the 90s. It spun out of Apple to create something "big", and apparently, the team behind the company pre-empted the invention of the first smartphones and foresaw the e-commerce development, emojis, and many more genius ideas we take for granted today. Watch "General Magic" on Apple TV. 

AlphaGo (2017)

Go is an ancient Chinese game considered one of the planet's most abstract and complex games. There are more variations in its strategies than the atoms in the universe. To play it, you need to have outstanding logical and creative abilities. The documentary is based on how London-based company DeepMind created the AI-based AlphaGo program to see if the AI can defeat the virtuoso and one of the best players in Go - Lee Sedol. Watch "AlphaGo" on YouTube. 

App: The Human Story (2017)

A curious movie about the new economy where the main products are applications and e-platforms. The storyline follows app developers and creators and shows how they transform a technological concept into an integral part of our daily lives, how much it costs, and what it takes to create a useful and topical app. Watch "App: The Human Story" on Amazon Prime.

Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World (2016)

Vernor Herzog's 2016 documentary about the "Connected World" is devoted to the origin of the Internet - from its occurrence in the University of California auditoriums to its undeniable role in developing interplanetary flights, including Mars expeditions. The director acted as a storyteller: in the movie, he interviews Bob Cana, Elon Musk, and other famous physicists, engineers, and people related to the development of the World Wide Web. In addition to the positive aspects of technology and its benefits for our daily lives thanks to the Internet, the documentary reveals the dark sides of the virtual world - the issues with data security, anonymity, and Internet addiction. Watch "Lo and Behold, Reveries of the Connected World" on Amazon Prime.

Free to Play (2014)

It's a documentary made for everyone with a friend or family member who loves Dota. Three stories of three professional Dota 2 players, how they are preparing for the First World Dota 2 Championship with a 1 million dollar prize fund. The movie is also about cybersports in general, and it's not a children's game but a serious industry where you can build a real career. Watch "Free to Play" on Netflix.