This 58-Year-Old Star Trek Episode Hits Different In 2026

The original series of Star Trek was a groundbreaking show that changed TV forever. 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 the Star Trek universe 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.

The best Star Trek original series episodes 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, exposing Captain Kirk’s biggest mistakes, and causing havoc while its creator insists that it is acting normally before admitting that something has gone terribly wrong.

At the beginning, Captain Kirk is teased for being redundant, 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

Star Trek has its share of “mad scientist” characters, 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.

Despite having a breakdown in “The Ultimate Computer” and being sent to a rehabilitation facility for treatment, Daystrom is a major part of Star Trek lore. 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.

Created by

Gene Roddenberry

First Film

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

First TV Show

Star Trek: The Original Series

First Episode Air Date

September 8, 1966

Cast

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Jonathan Frakes, Patrick Stewart, Michael Dorn, Marina Sirtis, Gates McFadden, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig, Cirroc Lofton, Armin Shimerman, Colm Meaney, Terry Farrell, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson, Jeri Ryan, Robert Duncan McNeill, Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Garrett Wang, Jolene Blalock, Connor Trinneer, Dominic Keating, Scott Bakula, Linda Park, John Billingsley, Anthony Montgomery, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Chris Hemsworth, Benedict Cumberbatch, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sonequa Martin-Green, Mary Wiseman, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Wilson Cruz, Oyin Oladejo, Emily Coutts, Jess Bush, Christina Chong, Anson Mount, Ethan Peck, Rebecca Romijn, Michelle Yeoh

TV Show(s)

Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek Lower Decks, Star Trek: Prodigy, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

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.