Hosts
A key theme within Westworld is the relationship between Humans and Hosts - the word used in the TV series for the non-human beings. So what are Hosts?
On Westworld Fandom wiki the differences between Robots, Androids and Cyborgs is analysed:
Robot: A mechanical device operated by Artificial Intelligence
Android: A Robot that is made to look human
Cyborg: A biological organism that is "enhanced" by mechanical / artificial devices.
Host: Hosts are basically androids but there are a few special cases:
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Bernard - an android but with special abilities.
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James Delos "clones" used as part of the immortality program (Season 2)
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Dolores - the original template for the other hosts.
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Maeve - a host augmented so she can control other hosts.
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Drone hosts - hosts without the outer skin - making them robots.
Current status in the "Real World"
If you would like to see how far we have got in creating androids (as a precursor to Hosts) - you can watch the Interview with Tony Robbins and Sophia.
Hosts as humans
The hosts in Westworld are often presented as more human than humans. This really confuses us. They express emotions - although these emotions are "affects" and can be switched off when commanded. this is not how emotions really work - ie humans cannot easily switch them of at will.
Hosts also appear to have free will. Maeve has the mother's love for her child etc etc.
My view is that robots are not conscious and therefore do not have freewill. In the real world (ie this world) we see AI type consci