I was going to write something up but honestly the top two answers in this physics stack exchange do it more competently and comprehensively than I'm able
My takeaway/summary is 'AdS/CFT let's you temporarily change your space/model to make the math easier and then map it back into the original model. Although we don't currently have such a model specified for our particular observed universe, it still allows us to study functionality equivalent behavior and make some determinations over what is/isn't/could be possible'
> Ok, so if I understand correctly, AdS spaces aren't meant to directly model the universe, but rather are used as a tool to make certain calculations in CFT easier?
GP's comment was modelling the universe as AdS/CFT, though, which is why my question addressed precisely that part:
> How is AdS/CFT (as it pertains to describing spacetime & the Standard Model)
Sorry, my point was to (almost facetiously) interject the topological concept of "boundary/bulk" correspondence (as also exists with holograms & AdS/CFT) rather than suggesting the correctness of AdS/CFT.
The idea that "outside" becomes available via a change in perspective from boundary to bulk.
https://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/122540/why-are-a...
My takeaway/summary is 'AdS/CFT let's you temporarily change your space/model to make the math easier and then map it back into the original model. Although we don't currently have such a model specified for our particular observed universe, it still allows us to study functionality equivalent behavior and make some determinations over what is/isn't/could be possible'