Smart AI

"Each of us represents a single trans-human mind. Each of us is an undrawn map – not a mere physical reconstruction of an object as it was in life – but full, human potential realized in crystal and thinking at the speed of light!"

- One of the AIs of the Assembly.

A smart AI or "smart" AI is the colloquial term in the United Nations Space Command for artificial intelligence (AI) which have no limitations in their dynamic memory-processor matrix, meaning they can not only be taught a vast wealth of information, but can learn and comprehend from their surroundings. This is unlike "dumb" AIs who can only learn a limited set of topics. One example of a "smart" AI is Cortana.

Background
The first smart AI was created in the mid-21st century. At first there was great concern that this new technology would become too capable and render human intelligence obsolete. The ability for vocal expressions was added as it made them less threatening, conversing on the same level as their masters. Over time, such AIs became more advanced. Due to their uninhibited matrix design, "smart" AIs proved capable of intellectual development. This is manifested in that they can both learn from and adapt to situations and events. Conversely, their opposites, the so-called "dumb" AIs, (which while experts in their programmed fields) can not. Like all AIs, smart AIs use a Riemann matrix for higher-function processing. This matrix can be downloaded into a data crystal chip for mobility. In case of Rampancy, the Riemann matrix has a fail-safe program that will destroy the AI.

Every "smart" AI represents itself through a holographic avatar. The appearance of these avatars are usually derived from the physical traits of the person they are created from; for example, Cortana resembles a younger version of Dr. Halsey. Avatars can range from the complex and theatric, such as those of Araquiel and Deep Winter, to simpler human forms such as those of Melissa, Cortana and Serina.

Dr. Catherine Halsey worked extensively with AIs and oversaw the construction of all their programming. She has an unparalleled knowledge on how AIs work and also created the upgrades for the MJOLNIR armor so it would be capable of carrying an AI. She and her team successfully managed to create a neural link between a human and a smart AI for the first time. Through a neural interface, the neural network of the AI and the low-order structure of the human brain would be effectively connected. This was first tested by John-117 and Cortana in 2552. Dr. Halsey also had her brain flash-cloned, which in turn were scanned to create two AIs, Cortana and Kalmiya.

Despite the fact that "smart" AIs are essentially trans-human minds, they are treated as little more than tools, and their activities are closely monitored. Due to their superior intelligence, some "smart" AIs secretly consider themselves as the "next step" in human evolution. By 2310, a group of "smart" AIs had formed the Assembly, a collective that worked to preserve the human race, without humanity's knowledge. The group existed for centuries, and was ultimately behind many important events in human history.

Creation
Instead of simply "programming" a smart AI, their matrix is created by sending electric bursts through the neural pathways of a human brain which are then replicated in a superconducting nano-assemblage in a process known as Cognitive Impression Modeling. This process destroys the original brain tissue, and so the brain being used is typically obtained after the host is dead. In the case of the AI Cortana, however, the candidate brain was flash-cloned and the host's memories transferred, so that the host, in this case Dr. Catherine Halsey, could remain alive. However, this is extremely inefficient: out of twenty of Dr. Halsey's cloned brains, only two of them took.

The human neural patterns are used merely to "seed" the initial AI matrix; over time, the AI develops its own system of more efficient neural linkages. This can be considered one of the drawbacks of smart AI creation; initiation time is wasted for the AI by creating the first neural linkages. It is technically unclear exactly how a "smart" AI works, as it is only based on the functionality of a human brain, which even UNSC scientists do not fully understand.

Because "smart" AIs are created using either actual human brains or cloned human brains there are often times residual thoughts, memories and/or feelings that remain. These residuals can be anything from the "feeling" of a hair brush being pulled through hair (in the case of Sif), to an effect on the mannerisms and characteristics that make up the personality of an AI, in the case of Cortana and her likeness to Dr. Catherine Halsey.

Lifespan
Another feature which stems from their unusual nature is a limited lifespan. Dr. Halsey compared the life cycle of a smart AI to that of a star; they spark, burn brightly, then either die by the crush of gravity or quickly terminate in a chaotic eruption.

Unlike dumb AIs, smart AIs not only accumulate knowledge but also grow in their ability to draw conclusions from an incomplete dataset - similar to human intuition or creativity. Over time, this causes them to form more and more cross-linkages within their processing matrix. This increases their cognitive abilities, but also shortens their operational lifespan; with such an excessive overload of data their function under normal parameters is no longer possible.

The interconnections continue with two possible outcomes: the sheer density of linkages causes a cascade of irreversible quantum transfer (comparable to a short circuit), eventually halting all functions, or the AI may take corrective action and begins to preemptively sever neural linkages through a voltage overload. This often results in a condition known as rampancy, which is characterized by aberrant manifestations of personality. This eventually leads to the AI eliminating more and more vital connections which in the end proves terminal, and essentially kills the AI system. An apt analogy to this would be a human brain devoting so much of its work towards thought that its neural signals to vital organs cease. In this way the AIs quite literally 'think' themselves to death.

Currently, smart AIs have a lifespan of about seven years. This trait was able to be forestalled in later generations of "smart" AI such as Deep Winter.

Solutions
A number of solutions for a smart AI's short lifespan have been proposed, none of which are known to have been effectively implemented.

Dr. Catherine Halsey experimented with a theoretical architecture of three smart AIs arranged in parallel. This "triumvirate" would make consensus decisions of which neural links to cut when approaching rampancy, as well as divide algorithms to compensate, resulting in more stable and coherent operation, possibly even faster processing. The creation of neural linkages would also be decided by consensus decision, resulting in more controlled development.

In the architecture of a smart AI, space is also an obvious limitation. Halsey attempted to overcome this by creating a hyper-dimensional processing matrix within the eleven-dimensional spacetime of Slipstream space. Theoretically, slipspace would allow limitless cross-connections and faster-than-light processing speeds. In 2547, she attempted to test this in practice using a decommissioned Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine, but was forced to destroy the experiment.

Second Generation

 * Kalmiya - Dr. Halsey's former personal AI, Cortana's "older sister".

Third Generation

 * Araquiel - Colonel Ackerson's personal AI
 * Cortana - CTN 0452-9 - UNSC Military AI

Fourth Generation

 * Eternal Spring - First Known Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet Onyx, aided in reconnaissance of Zone 67.

Fifth Generation

 * Deep Winter - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet Onyx, succeeding Eternal Spring.
 * Endless Summer - MIL AI 4279 - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet Onyx, succeeding Deep Winter.

Other/Unknown

 * Beowulf - Was the attaché to Admiral Michael Stanforth and the UNSC Navy.
 * Chauncey - UNSC Red Horse's old Smart AI
 * Doppler - MIL AI 8575 - UNSC Military AI
 * FitzGibbon - Was the ship-board AI of the UNSC Prophecy during the Second Battle of Harvest.
 * Iona - AI attached to SPARTAN Black Team.
 * Jerrod - The first micro-AI (Experimental)
 * Juliana - Planet Madrigal's Commercial AI unpacked after the planet's destruction by The Covenant to control The Rubble's guidance and maneuvering.
 * Lackluster - corroborated conclusions of Cole's continuing survival with Codename: SURGEON and another AI, Phoenix
 * Loki - Colony Ship AI (military) of the UNSC Skidbladnir Reassigned as PSI (Planetary Security Intelligence) on Harvest, second AI core on stand-by next to Mack AI
 * Lorelei - Ship AI of the CMA Season of Plenty
 * Lysithea - UNSC/ONI AI, was located in the UNSC High Command's headquarters, HighCom Facility Bravo-6 in Sydney, Australia.
 * Mack - Colonial Authority AI/Agricultural Operations.
 * Melissa - UNSC/ONI AI, attached to UNSC Apocalypso.
 * Mo Ye - Shipboard AI of the UNSC The Heart of Midlothian.
 * Pallas Athena - Boston Public Library AI
 * Phoenix - corroborated conclusions of Cole's continuing survival with Codename: SURGEON and another AI, Lackluster
 * Rebecca - UNSC Red Horse's Smart AI
 * Sekmet - Shipboard AI of Preston Cole's flagship, UNSC Everest.
 * Serina - UNSC AI, served aboard the UNSC Spirit of Fire.
 * Sif - Colonial Authority AI/Shipping Operations.
 * Solipsil - An ONI AI.
 * Toran - UNSC AI, served aboard UNSC Han during the SPARTAN Observation Process.
 * Watchmaker - UNSC Military for Captain Cole aboard the UNSC Gorgon.
 * Wellsley - UNSC Military.

Trivia

 * Smart AIs' lifespans are about seven years long, this is another reference to Bungie's favorite number, seven.
 * Curiously, the smart AIs making up the Assembly were apparently able to function for centuries without being shut down due to the risk of rampancy.
 * Some smart AIs have avoided rampancy or have at least not shown it, such as Juliana.