Smart AI: Difference between revisions

{{Status|Canon}}

{{Quote|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 [[The Assembly|Assembly]]}}

 

'''Volitional AI''',{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22p108|Enc22|Page=108}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Volitional|Halo|1766129336799609075|Halo|Quote=Volitional AIs are digital minds created from scanned, recently deceased human brains with self-initiative.|D=16|M=03|Y=2024}} colloquially known as '''"smart" AI''', are [[human]] [[artificial intelligence]]s 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. Volitional AI are also notably created from scans of deconstructed recently-deceased human brains.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p108}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=FoR|TFoR|Chapter=25}}{{Ref/Novel|Id=CH1|CH|Chapter=1}} This is unlike [[Dumb AI|nonvolitional AI]], or "dumb" AI, who are designed for basic, task-oriented operations,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22p108}}{{Ref/Twitter|Id=Nonvolitional|Halo|1768717635254964641|Halo|Quote=Nonvolitional AIs are automated systems designed for basic, task-oriented operations...|D=16|M=03|Y=2024}} only capable of learning a limited set of topics and lacking ingenuity.{{Ref/Reuse|FoR}}

Because of the nature of this process the smart AI often retains residual thoughts, memories and/or feelings from the brain donor.<ref>'''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)]]''', ''page 229''</ref> These residuals can be anything from the "feeling" of a hair brush being pulled through hair (in the case of [[Sif]]),<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 33''</ref> 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 as well as her possessing many of Halsey's memories, which surfaced during her descent into rampancy.<ref>'''Halo 4''', campaign level ''[[Composer (level)|Composer]]''</ref> When [[the Weapon]] is created from another one of Dr. Halsey's cloned brains, she is described as an exact copy of Cortana with the same routines and systems, but without all of her knowledge and history. While talking to [[John-117]] about the Weapon, Halsey refers to her as "a blank slate."{{Ref/Game|Id=Audio logs|HI|Audio log (Halo Infinite)#Recovered Files 2|UNSC Audio log|Detail=Recovered Files #04 - The Weapon}}

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, and then either die by the crush of gravity or quickly terminate in a chaotic eruption".''{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

Unlike [[dumb AI]]s, 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.<ref name="fs195">'''Halo: First Strike''', ''page 195''</ref> 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.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}}

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 pre-emptively sever neural linkages through a voltage overload. This often results in a condition known as [[rampancy]], which is characterized by aberrant manifestations of personality.{{Ref/Reuse|journal}} 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.<ref>'''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''', ''page 86''</ref>

Currently, smart AIs have a lifespan of about [[seven]] years before rampancy begins to take hold.{{Ref/Reuse|fs195}} This trait was able to be forestalled in later generations of "smart" AI such as [[Deep Winter]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Ghosts of Onyx]]''', ''page 108''</ref> [[Rampancy#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.

===Final dispensation===

Because rampant AIs can become a severe danger to those around them, [[UNSC Regulation 12-145-72, Article 55]] decrees that AIs at the end of their operational lifespan be euthanized in a process referred to as "final dispensation".<ref>'''[[Halo 4]]''', campaign level ''[[Reclaimer (level)|Reclaimer]]''</ref> Although this is typically carried out by human personnel, AIs have been known to self-terminate in the absence of humans capable of making the necessary arrangements.<ref>'''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''', campaign level ''[[Blue Team (level)|Blue Team]]'' (''[[Mission Intel|Log 2557 9-12 613 SMT 4/4]]'')</ref><ref>'''[[Halo Wars 2]]''', campaign level ''[[The Signal]]''</ref>

After entering rampancy and endangering the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}} as a result when there was a [[Flood]] [[Outbreak on the UNSC Spirit of Fire|outbreak]] on the ship, [[Serina]] awakened Professor [[Ellen Anders]]. Along with helping to deal with the Flood threat, Anders set up the final dispensation protocols for the AI. After the outbreak was contained, Serina prepared to self-terminate, but Anders set a countdown timer to trigger automatically once Serina hit seven years if Serina didn't trigger it sooner. After Anders returned to cryo sleep and Serina finished recording contingency briefings and a message for [[Captain]] [[James Cutter]], she activated the final dispensation protocols and self-terminated.<ref>'''[[Halo: Tales from Slipspace]]''', ''[[Something Has Happened]]''</ref>

[[Iona]] is the only smart AI known to have attempted to defy this practice through legal channels in the form of an appeal to the [[United Nations Humanitarian Council]]. Following a simulated trial by other smart AIs, Iona was placed into stasis until a conclusive decision on the matter could be made.{{Ref/Reuse|hst}}

 

*[[Kusanagi]] - Partook in the defense of [[Jericho VII]] in [[2535]].

 

*[[Araqiel]] - Colonel Ackerson's personal AI

*[[Cortana]] - CTN 0452-9 - UNSC military AI{{Ref/Note|Cortana is mentioned in Dr. Halsey's personal journal (May 21, 2549) as being a 3rd-generation smart AI. It is curious that Halsey would use the supposedly obsolete third-generation architecture to create her state-of-the-art AI when the ''fifth'' generation had already been active for years. Since the nature of the generational classification system is not elaborated upon, it is possible that the upgrades relate to other aspects of the AI's software architecture ([[Deep Winter#Notes|e.g. its lifespan]]) than the ones relevant for Cortana's primary mission of software intrusion, and that the third generation may even have been superior to the later ones in this regard.}}

*[[Iona]] - IOA 7201-4 - AI attached to SPARTAN [[Black Team]].

 

 

 

*[[Iratus]] - First known Smart AI created from a [[Jiralhanae]] donor.

File:Mo Ye.png|Mo Ye

File:Rebecca.png|Rebecca

File:Bloodline AI.png|Iona

*''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'' {{1st}}

**''[[The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole]]''

**''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''

**''[[Rossbach's World (story)|Rossbach's World]]''

**''[[Something Has Happened]]''

**''[[Fireteam Majestic Poker Night]]''

 

[[Category:Artificial intelligence]]