“Accused” stars Nick Cannon and Patrick J. Adams discuss AI history and complicated on-screen friendship

[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Accused Season 2, Episode 3, “Marcus’ Story.”]

Accused tackled AI in its latest episode, “Marcus' Story,” which pits two friends against each other as they investigate the risks and benefits of such technology.

The Masked Singer Host Nick Cannon and Suits Favorite Patrick J. Adams has teamed up to play friends and colleagues Marcus and Pete, who are on the verge of selling their AI program when a problem arises in the system and someone uses this to blackmail the duo , so that they can integrate a third party into their program – an upcoming stroke of luck.

When Marcus finally learns that Pete covered up a problem with the program that had problems identifying the faces of Black and other people of color, the duo clashes. But their dispute isn't just about the virus, as a black man is wrongfully killed by police after being misidentified in their program. Marcus doesn't want to go through with the sale without transparency, even though Pete claims the problem has been resolved. As tensions flare around this issue, including mixed feelings about Pete's perception of programming and racial identification, the friends get into a physical altercation while arguing over how to pay their blackmailer.

The argument results in Marcus pushing Pete, who accidentally falls over the banister of the stairwell where they were talking. The fall kills Pete, and because of it, Marcus is on trial. Ultimately, Marcus was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter, but the failed show and Pete's death weighed on him in the final moments of the episode.

About the role, Cannon tells TV Insider: “I got to experience every emotion in an hour. You see elation, you see joy, you see pain, you see sorrow, you see regret, you see fear, you see fear,” he adds. “So to be able to take a journey with a character like that in one sitting was pretty outstanding.”

Cannon is more often seen in a comedic light, and of Adams working with the actor, he says, “He was just so easy and great to work with. He's a professional, he's been doing this forever and it's fun to work with people when you're like, “Hey, I have no idea who you are.” We've never met. Let’s get started,'” Adams notes. The feeling was mutual for Cannon, who reveals: “I enjoyed being able to bounce off him. And our chemistry was right. I think we’re two men in a similar life situation and we just embody these characters in an authentic way.”

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Even though Adams' Pete was the victim in this case, Adams says, “This isn't about bad people doing bad things. This episode isn't about people with bad intentions. This is not about intent. This is about [a] Moment went wrong.”

As for shedding his more comedic shell, Cannon says, “It was a big challenge to disappear into a character that people don't recognize.” And the same goes for Adams, whose character Pete is a bit of a departure from his nice characters.

“Pete is just different than me,” Adams says. “I overthink everything. I'm much more of a Marcus in my life. I'm working on everything, wanting to make sure everyone likes me and that I'm doing the right thing and I [want to] leave a good impression. It can be kind of overbearing and take up my life. And so it's very liberating to play a character who says, 'I just don't care.'”

As for the topic of AI, which has been a hot topic in recent years, Cannon admits it was part of the appeal for him. “Technology makes a lot of decisions for us these days, but they don’t make them in a way that a human would make those decisions. It asks a lot of questions. I’m excited to be part of an episode that is so relevant and makes people think.”

“This is just a consequence of something that will define all of our lives and the lives of our children in the future,” Adams says of AI’s role in this episode. “That's why I think any story that incorporates it in a realistic and grounded way, where you can see how it affects the characters in real time, is so important.” Admittedly, I'm a “fan of technology”, says Adams. “I also spend a fair amount of time listening to people who are much smarter than me, and AI is something completely different. It's a revolution the likes of which we haven't seen since the Internet.”

This episode of Accused shines a light on the potential dangers of such a rapid technological revolution, which is sure to keep fans thinking long after the credits roll. What do you think about the episode? Let us know in the comments section below and stay tuned to know more about it Accused as Season 2 unfolds.

AccusedTuesdays, 9/8c, Fox