Westworld's AI: A Surprisingly Accurate Sci-Fi Take

Westworld, the HBO series that captivated sci-fi fans, did more than just entertain. It sparked conversations about AI and its potential. The show's depiction of AI, particularly in its first season, was surprisingly accurate, according to AI researcher Sasha Luccioni. In one scene, a host named Maeve Millay demonstrates AI's ability to improvise. Luccioni explains that AI can indeed improvise within its trained parameters. For instance, an AI trained on customer service logs can handle similar queries, even if the wording is slightly different. However, AI struggles when asked about topics outside its training, like the meaning of life. This limitation highlights the current state of AI technology. The show also explored AI in warfare through a scene involving an AI drone. While the drone's facial recognition is plausible, the idea of AI-controlled bullets is far-fetched. Luccioni points out the ethical concerns of using AI for life-and-death decisions. She believes AI's predictive capabilities are not advanced enough for such tasks. The drone scene, therefore, leans more into fiction than science. Westworld's portrayal of AI was ahead of its time. The show's ethical questions about AI remain relevant, even as technology advances. It's a shame the series ended after season 4, as a fifth season could have provided an even more accurate and timely depiction of AI. The show's cancellation left fans wanting more. Not just for the story's conclusion, but also for its exploration of AI's complexities. Westworld's blend of entertainment and real-world relevance made it a standout series.