WestWorld Season 2 Begs the Question, How Close to Reality is the Show?

As we move further into April, we continue to become closer to our next journey into WestWorld. Season two of the hit science fiction/western thriller premiers the 22nd of this month on HBO. A fictional world in which fully cognitive artificial beings act as hosts in a theme park has begged us to answer a question of morality- how do we treat artificially intelligent beings? Better yet, how close are we to a reality in which machines genuinely look and react as we do? A question that has been asked since the birth of robotics and software engineering may finally have an answer.

The Power of Humanoid Robotics

Our hosts in WestWorld present sights that are truly marvelous to behold. In this fictional world, the Delos Corporation has created machines that are indistinguishable from humans — they even bleed when cut or injured. As for reality, we are quite a fair bit off from the machines portrayed in the television show. However, after taking a look, that time might not be as far into your future as you first thought.

Numerous companies have been racing to create the most realistic humanoid robots possible, focusing on synthetic skin and miniscule muscle movements. One of the most popular, thanks to its appearances on American late-night shows is Sophia by Hanson Robotics. Capable of emulating human expression, Sophia is quite an impressive accomplishment, but it still lacks the fluidity of the hosts within WestWorld.

Other companies are working on that movement, aiming not to create robots that look externally human, but instead are more fluid in their overall actions. At the forefront of this race is Honda’s ASIMO robot, a machine created back in 2000 but based on the research of older humanoid robots manufactured as far back as 1986. With the latest model of ASIMO featuring an impressive 57 degrees of freedom, it remains one of the world’s most advanced robots.

Minds Powered by Artificial Intelligence

Advancements made by companies such as Hansom Robotics and Honda may be impressive, but a robot is no more than a chunk of metal without sophisticated software. What is the reality of artificial intelligence programming in our current world and how close to they come in our WestWorld fantasies?

Taking a step back to look yet again at Sophia, we witness the power of advanced software programming. While Sophia is not ready to step out into the world on her own, the power of machine learning is enough to give humans an impression that she might be thinking. Even Hanson Robotics own website states that Sophia is only ‘starting to learn about the emotions’ that certain expressions convey.

Taking a step back with a more pragmatic approach, companies such as WorkFusion have been developing artificial intelligence and machine learning tools since 2011. Providing many tools to modern day businesses, you would be surprised how many times you may have interacted with a machine and not been aware. Today’s artificial intelligence and machine learning is aimed at solving real-world problems, and that is what WorkFusion provides for its clients.

Our real-world artificial intelligence capabilities are proliferating; while we are yet to produce fully conscious beings from metal and silicon, we have used the same problem-solving approaches in everyday situations. A host may not be guiding you around a park, but the machine learning concepts behind their heads are currently utilized by WorkFusion clients to prevent financial fraud, digitize complex information, deliver timely data, and engage with customers.

We Await What The Future Holds

WestWorld provides a world of adventure for viewers and season two is set to tell us a tale of what happens when we lose control of the very artificial intelligence we set out to create. However, storytelling is said as such for a reason — it is not reality. While it is nearly undoubtedly that we will one day approach the software and hardware abilities portrayed in the show, we have some time to relax before a robot uprising.

In the meantime, know that intelligent solutions backed by similar technologies do exist and continue to grow. Better yet, who knows, maybe one day you might walk into your favorite store or visit the local amusement park, finding yourself in the service of a machine indistinguishable from a human. For now, enjoy the benefits that machine learning and artificial intelligence provide, just don’t go looking for the maze — it is not meant for you.

HBO’s WestWorld Season two will be premiering Sunday, April 22 at 9 PM EST on HBO.