Conversation with Robert West, EPFL
About this episode
The episode explores the evolution of AI into an autonomous agent and its implications for society.
What happens when AI stops being just a tool—and starts acting like an autonomous agent? In this episode of Inside AI, host Marcel Salathé speaks with EPFL professor and Applied Machine Learning Days co-founder Bob West about the growing rift shaping today’s AI landscape. Drawing on insights from his sabbatical at Microsoft Research, West unpacks how AI has evolved into a general-purpose technology with real-world power. From the surprising persuasive abilities of large language models, to hidden English-centric biases, to the emerging need for “machine psychology,” the conversation explores how modern AI systems think, adapt, and influence us. They also tackle the risks of AI as a self-improving actor—and the hopeful promise of accelerating scientific discovery and medical breakthroughs. A deep dive into the future of human–machine intelligence, and what it means for the world we’re rapidly entering. Production: Melissa Anchisi
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