Michael Wooldridge, an Oxford professor and artificial intelligence expert with over 500 scientific articles and 10 books, has spent more than 30 years studying AI. Despite his deep involvement, he maintains a healthy scepticism about the technology. In his 2023 Royal Institution Christmas lectures, he used a robotic dog and a recreation of the film WarGames to explain complex concepts to young audiences.
Wooldridge's latest book, Life Lessons from Game Theory, applies strategic thinking to real-world scenarios. He argues that many global events can be explained by a small number of game theory models. One example is the game of 'chicken', illustrated by the James Dean film Rebel Without a Cause, where two drivers race towards a cliff. This model, he says, mirrors current tensions such as the US-Iran conflict, where escalating threats risk a point of no return.
Wooldridge warns that Silicon Valley entrepreneurs often misuse technology, driven by incentives that game theory can explain. He notes that unpredictable behaviour, a classic strategy, makes it hard for opponents to respond. The real danger, he suggests, is not a robot takeover but the strategic missteps of powerful tech leaders.
