How do people read this then just... go on with their day as usual? “25 AI agents inhabit a digital Westworld, unaware that they are living in a simulation. They go to work, gossip, organize socials, make new friends, and even fall in love.” Here’s a mindblowing example of how autonomous AIs are now, and how ridiculous it is to say that the AIs "only do things we tell them to do”: POV: you tell the Westworld character “Isabella Rodriguez” to host an entire Valentine’s Day party in two days. This is a complex act, certainly something only humans, and not toasters, can do, right? - Isabella proceeds to invite friends and customers when she sees them at Hobbs Cafe or elsewhere. - Isabella then spends the afternoon of the 13th decorating the cafe for the party. - Maria, a frequent customer and close friend of Isabella’s, arrives at the cafe. Isabella asks for Maria’s help in decorating for the party, and Maria agrees. - That night, Maria invites Klaus, her secret crush, to join her at the party, and he gladly accepts. - On Valentine’s Day, five agents, including Klaus and Maria, coordinate to show up for the party together at the right time (5pm), and they enjoy the festivities. You told Isabella to host a party, but then she - and the other AIs - went and made a million other decisions entirely on their own - things you didn't explicitly tell them to do. Autonomous AIs are here. And -- tapping the sign -- this is another example where science fiction is becoming reality, and why “you watch too much sci-fi” is a stupid dunk. This digital Westworld - “Smallville” - is now open source, meaning there will soon be thousands of these Westworlds, with thousands or millions of autonomous AIs populating them. Makes you think, doesn’t it? “Almost as interesting as the 7.8 billion inhabitants of Largeville, (almost) all unaware they are living in a simulation. Each has a unique personality and backstory.” - @Erikbryn