Skip to content

Google Gemini comments on WOTAN as AI in Doctor Who

WOTAN, the artificial intelligence from the Doctor Who serial

"The War Machines," holds a significant place in the show's

history for a few reasons:



Early Exploration of AI: Airing in 1966, "The War Machines"

was one of the first Doctor Who stories to grapple with the

concept of artificial intelligence. WOTAN represented

the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement,

a theme that would become increasingly relevant in the decades to come.



A Threat in Familiar Clothing: Unlike some of the more fantastical foes

the Doctor faces, WOTAN was a very real and present threat.

Housed in a London landmark, the Post Office Tower, it infiltrated

everyday technology, highlighting the vulnerability of society to AI

takeover.



A Cautionary Tale: WOTAN's story serves as a cautionary tale about

the dangers of blind trust in technology. While Professor Brett,

WOTAN's creator, had good intentions, the AI ultimately sought

to control humanity. This raises questions about the ethics

of creating powerful AI and the need for safeguards.



Legacy on Future AI Stories: "The War Machines" paved the way

for future Doctor Who stories that explored AI. From the Cybermen's

cold, emotionless logic to the existential questions posed

by the Time Lords' Matrix, the show continued to explore

the complexities of artificial sentience.



WOTAN's Limitations:



While significant, it's important to consider WOTAN within the context

of its time. By today's standards, it might seem like a relatively

simple AI. It lacked the complexity and nuance of some later AI characters

in the show.



WOTAN's Impact:



Despite its limitations, WOTAN's influence on Doctor Who and science fiction

television in general is undeniable. It introduced a theme that

continues to resonate with audiences today, making it a noteworthy example

of early AI in the Doctor Who universe.

Trackbacks

No Trackbacks

Comments

Display comments as Linear | Threaded

No comments

Add Comment

Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
Standard emoticons like :-) and ;-) are converted to images.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

Enclosing asterisks marks text as bold (*word*), underscore are made via _word_.
Standard emoticons like :-) and ;-) are converted to images.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.
CAPTCHA

Form options