How does Person of Interest explore the concept of free will?

Person of Interest is a science fiction television series that explores the concept of free will through the use of artificial intelligence. The show follows John Reese, a former CIA operative who is recruited by a reclusive billionaire named Harold Finch to help prevent violent crimes before they occur.

The show's central premise is that Harold has created an artificial intelligence system called 'The Machine' that is capable of analyzing vast amounts of data from various sources to predict and prevent violent crimes. However, The Machine is not infallible and sometimes its predictions require human interpretation and intervention.

Through the relationship between Harold and The Machine, Person of Interest explores the idea of free will and determinism. The Machine is designed to prevent violent crimes before they occur, but its actions raise questions about the nature of free will. If The Machine can predict and prevent violent crimes, does that mean that the individuals involved in those crimes lack free will? Or does the fact that The Machine needs human intervention to act on its predictions suggest that free will still exists?

The show also explores the consequences of giving up free will in the pursuit of safety and security. The government organization tasked with using The Machine for national security purposes, known as 'Control', believes that The Machine should be fully autonomous and not require human intervention. However, Harold and his team believe that The Machine should be used as a tool to prevent violent crimes, not as a means of controlling people's lives.