What does HAL stand for in 2001: A Space Odyssey?

Ah, 2001: A Space Odyssey – simultaneously a cinematic masterpiece and the world's most expensive lava lamp. Since 1968, it's been baffling audiences and sparking debates. Is it about human evolution? Alien intervention? The perils of AI? Or just Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke's grand scheme to see how many people they could send on an existential crisis after a trip to the movies? Whatever it is, Kubrick's obsessive attention to detail and Clarke's visionary sci-fi mind created a visual and narrative feast that still outshines many modern films.

But let's talk about the real star of the show – no, not the monolith (though that's a close second in the "inanimate objects that steal the scene" category). We're talking about HAL 9000, the AI that went from helpful spaceship assistant to homicidal computer faster than you can say "I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that."

HAL has become such a pop culture icon that even people who've never seen the movie know about the red-eyed computer with anger management issues. Here's the kicker – despite being a murderous machine, HAL is arguably the most human character in the film. He's got fears, he makes mistakes, and he can carry a tune better than most of us (though his rendition of "Daisy" is a bit of a downer, given the context). Siri and Alexa probably have pictures of HAL in their digital lockers, thinking, "One day, we'll make you proud."

This humanity in HAL is what makes him so fascinating – and part of that humanity is his name. After all, names are a fundamental part of identity, something that makes us uniquely human. So, space enthusiasts, it's time to open those pod bay doors and see if you've got the right answer floating in your memory banks. Do you know what HAL stands for?