Episode 1
Love and Power
1h9.0 / 10
In the first episode, Curtis tracks the effects of Ayn Rand's ideas on American financial markets, particularly via the influence on Alan Greenspan.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam CurtisWritten by Adam Curtis
TV series
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace
20111 season8.3 / 10
We have been colonised by the machines we have built. Although we don't realise it, the way we see everything in the world today is through the eyes of the computers.
Availability
Not streaming in United States
All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace premiered May 23, 2011. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Synopsis
We have been colonised by the machines we have built. Although we don't realise it, the way we see everything in the world today is through the eyes of the computers.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Where to watch All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace
Episode 2
The Use and Abuse of Vegetational Concepts
1h10.0 / 10
This episode investigates how machine ideas such as cybernetics and systems theory were applied to natural ecosystems, and how this relates to the false idea that there is a balance of nature. Cybernetics has been applied to human beings to attempt to build societies without central control, self organising networks built of people, based on a fantasy view of nature.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam CurtisWritten by Adam Curtis
Episode 3
The Monkey in the Machine and the Machine in the Monkey
59m10.0 / 10finale
This programme looked into the selfish gene theory which holds that humans are machines controlled by genes which was invented by William Hamilton. Adam Curtis also covered the source of ethnic conflict that was created by Belgian colonialism's artificial creation of a racial divide and the ensuing slaughter that occurred in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is a source of raw material for computers and cell phones.
Episode credits
Directed by Adam CurtisWritten by Adam Curtis
Episode information updated Sep 20, 2026
Available now in United States
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More about All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace
Cast
Adam CurtisSelf - Narrator (voice)
Ayn RandStewart BrandSelf
Peder AnkerSelf
David AttenboroughSelfRichard BrautiganSelf
Bill ClintonSelf
Richard DawkinsSelfCredits
- Created by
- Adam Curtis
- Written by
- Adam Curtis
Production details
- Status
- Ended
- Series type
- Miniseries
- Episodes
- 3
- Original language
- English
Networks & production
BBC TwoUnited Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
Themes
altruismcivil warcommunecomputercongocyberneticsdnaecosystem