Associated intelligence

Associated intelligence is the term used by the Covenant to describe a type of artificial intelligence. Although the definition is unclear, it appears to refer specifically to two or more AIs linked together and working in synchrony, or actually sentient AIs such as human smart AIs. According to their mythology, an associated intelligence once betrayed the Forerunners, and thus the Covenant maintained a strict ban on the creation of associated AI technology under penalty of death.

The ban was put in place by the Prophets after learning parts of the tale of Mendicant Bias - a Forerunner AI composed of many AI minds, who descended into rampancy, betrayed the Forerunners, and allied itself with the Flood in the misguided belief that its makers were "hindering" the evolution of the galaxy. The Covenant's ban may have stemmed from a desire to prevent such a thing happening again.

Despite their ban on associated intelligences, the Covenant were known to use less sophisticated AI constructs to perform certain designated tasks such as piloting their ships.