Halo Alpha
Halo Alpha
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{{References}}
 
{{References}}
 
[[File:Cortana Halo 3.jpg|thumb|right|190px|The human AI [[Cortana]] has female programming and a blue avatar.]]
 
[[File:Cortana Halo 3.jpg|thumb|right|190px|The human AI [[Cortana]] has female programming and a blue avatar.]]
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{{BigQuote|The problem for an A.I. isn't doing a thousand things at once. It's slowing down and imparting all that information to humans. I love you all to bits, but you're something of a bottleneck in my processes.|[[Black Box]]}}
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'''Artificial intelligence''', abbreviated '''A.I.''', is an artificially created construct that exhibits intelligence similar to a sentient being. AIs were known to be used by the [[Forerunner]]s, and later by [[human]]ity to a great extent. The first generation "Smart" A.I.s were developed by humanity in the mid-21st century.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', page 30</ref>
 
'''Artificial intelligence''', abbreviated '''A.I.''', is an artificially created construct that exhibits intelligence similar to a sentient being. AIs were known to be used by the [[Forerunner]]s, and later by [[human]]ity to a great extent. The first generation "Smart" A.I.s were developed by humanity in the mid-21st century.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', page 30</ref>
   
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==Creation==
 
==Creation==
The process of creating an A.I. is different to what most people realize. Instead of simply "programming" a [["Smart" AI|"Smart" A.I.]], the A.I. matrix is actually 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 destroys the original brain tissue however, and so the brain being used could only be obtained after the host had died. However, in some instances, as in the case of the A.I. [[Cortana]], the candidate brain was flash-cloned and had its memories transferred to the receptacle organs so that the host, in this case [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], could remain alive. However, this is extremely inefficient. In the case of Cortana, out of twenty of Dr. Halsey's cloned brains, only two of them took.
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The process of creating an A.I. is different to what most people realize. Instead of simply "programming" a [[Smart artificial intelligence|Smart AI]], the A.I. matrix is actually 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 destroys the original brain tissue however, and so the brain being used could only be obtained after the host had died. However, in some instances, as in the case of the A.I. [[Cortana]], the candidate brain was flash-cloned and had its memories transferred to the receptacle organs so that the host, in this case [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]], could remain alive. However, this is extremely inefficient. In the case of Cortana, out of twenty of Dr. Halsey's cloned brains, only two of them took.
   
It should be noted that Dr. Halsey supervised the creation of the template for every third-generation "Smart" A.I. on the planet [[Reach]]. She has extensive knowledge on how A.I.s work.
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Dr. Halsey supervised the creation of the template for every third-generation "Smart" A.I. on the planet [[Reach]]. She has extensive knowledge on how A.I.s work.
   
 
==Smart and Dumb A.I.s==
 
==Smart and Dumb A.I.s==
[["Smart" AI|"Smart" A.I.s]], or A.I.s that are not confined to their one purpose, have a normal operational life span of about [[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] years. Because the "Smart" A.I. is subject to an established memory core which cannot be replaced, the more the A.I. collects data, the less "thinking" space it has to work with. An A.I. will literally "think" itself to death. Dumb A.I.s do not have this problem as they do not learn anything that is outside of their set limits of dynamic memory processing matrix. They are quite useful in their particular field of expertise, but very limited. Smart A.I.s can function and learn as long as they are active.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', page 235</ref>
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[[Smart artificial intelligence|Smart AIs]], or A.I.s that are not confined to their one purpose, have a normal operational life span of about [[List of seven references in Halo|seven]] years. Because the "Smart" A.I. is subject to an established memory core which cannot be replaced, the more the A.I. collects data, the less "thinking" space it has to work with. An A.I. will literally "think" itself to death. Dumb A.I.s do not have this problem as they do not learn anything that is outside of their set limits of a dynamic memory processing matrix. They are quite useful in their particular field of expertise, but very limited. Smart A.I.s can function and learn as long as they are active.<ref>''[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]]'', page 235</ref>
   
 
== Rampancy ==
 
== Rampancy ==
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{{Main|Rampancy}}
 
{{Main|Rampancy}}
   
If a "smart" human A.I. exists for over [[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]] years, it usually enters a stage of rampancy similar to the human state of insanity. The A.I. begins to think that it is superior to its human creators, and has delusions of godlike power.<ref>"''For a Smart AI, self-absorption invariably led to a deep depression caused by a realization that it could never really be human-that even its incredible mind had limits. If the AI wasn’t careful, this melancholy could drag its core logic into a terminal state known as rampancy, in which an AI rebelled against its programmatic constraints-developed delusions of godlike power as well as utter contempt for its more inferior, human makers. When that happened, there was really no option but to terminate the AI before it could do itself and others serious harm.''", '''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', page 31</ref>
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If a "smart" human A.I. exists for over seven years, it usually enters a stage of rampancy similar to the human state of insanity. The A.I. begins to think that it is superior to its human creators, and has delusions of godlike power.<ref>"''For a Smart AI, self-absorption invariably led to a deep depression caused by a realization that it could never really be human-that even its incredible mind had limits. If the AI wasn’t careful, this melancholy could drag its core logic into a terminal state known as rampancy, in which an AI rebelled against its programmatic constraints-developed delusions of godlike power as well as utter contempt for its more inferior, human makers. When that happened, there was really no option but to terminate the AI before it could do itself and others serious harm.''", '''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', page 31</ref>
However, the impression that ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and ''Halo: First Strike'' gives is that the A.I. would lose all combat effectiveness by being permanently locked in a state of thought, like daydreaming - the description given is "as if a human were to think with so much of their brain that they stopped sending impulses to the heart and lungs." This is because as the data reaches a "critical mass" the neural pathways become "jammed" with so many pieces of information being queried and analysed, at expense of tasks such as piloting starships or monitoring computer networks.
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However, the impression that ''Halo: The Fall of Reach'' and ''Halo: First Strike'' give is that the A.I. would lose all combat effectiveness by being permanently locked in a state of thought, like daydreaming - the description given is "as if a human were to think with so much of their brain that they stopped sending impulses to the heart and lungs." This is because as the data reaches a "critical mass" the neural pathways become "jammed" with so many pieces of information being queried and analysed, at expense of tasks such as piloting starships or monitoring computer networks.
   
[[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Forerunner]] [[Monitor]], went rampant after [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sgt. Johnson]] threatened to destroy the replacement for his Installation, showing that even Forerunner A.I.s can go rampant and that A.I.s can go rampant when severely upset or threatened. The Forerunner A.I. [[05-032 Mendicant Bias]] went rampant, as it tried to stop the Forerunners from activating the [[Halo Array]] after being convinced by the [[Gravemind]] to do so. The Covenant A.I. in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' also went rampant after it attacked [[Cortana]], and Cortana herself went rampant for a time while imprisoned in ''[[High Charity]]''.
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[[343 Guilty Spark]], the [[Forerunner]] [[Monitor]], went rampant after [[Avery Junior Johnson|Sgt. Johnson]] threatened to destroy the replacement for his Installation, showing that even Forerunner A.I.s can go rampant and that A.I.s can go rampant when severely upset or threatened. The Forerunner A.I. [[032 Mendicant Bias]] went rampant, as it tried to stop the Forerunners from activating the [[Halo Array]] after being convinced by the [[Gravemind]] to do so. The Covenant A.I. in ''[[Halo: First Strike]]'' also went rampant after it attacked [[Cortana]], and Cortana herself went rampant for a time while imprisoned in ''[[High Charity]]''.
   
 
==Design==
 
==Design==
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==Human A.I.s==
 
==Human A.I.s==
Other than the two types, "Dumb" and "Smart," human A.I.s are given certain purposes. Over the course of a few hundred years, humans have developed a highly advanced understanding of this type of technology, and are capable of creating intelligent and nearly sentient "Smart" A.I.s. However, these beings are not the result of actual programming, they can only be created by "copying" a human intelligence, which is only possible by destroying the original brain. The most sophisticated of human A.I.s are sometimes considered to be comparable to known [[Forerunner]] A.I.s. Human Smart A.I.s have an "expiration" date of seven years. Once they have reached this age, they will become very susceptible to rampancy, as has been demonstrated in the [[Insurrectionist]] A.I. [[Juliana]]. This time limit can (in theory) be prevented, or at least subdued, by having the A.I. focus on one thing. In the case of Juliana, the Rubble and its inhabitants. It is unknown whether this limitation is also apparent in Forerunner A.I.s, but it is unlikely. If this time limit did exist in Forerunner A.I.s, it would most likely be much longer than seven years. The "seven years" is also another obvious reference to Bungie's favorite number.
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Other than the two types, "Dumb" and "Smart," human A.I.s are given certain purposes. Over the course of a few hundred years, humans have developed a highly advanced understanding of this type of technology, and are capable of creating intelligent and nearly sentient "Smart" A.I.s. However, these beings are not the result of actual programming, they can only be created by "copying" a human intelligence, which is only possible by destroying the original brain. The most sophisticated of human A.I.s are sometimes considered to be comparable to known [[Forerunner]] A.I.s. Human Smart A.I.s have an "expiration" date of seven years. Once they have reached this age, they will become very susceptible to rampancy, as has been demonstrated in the [[Insurrectionist]] A.I. [[Juliana]]. This time limit can (in theory) be prevented, or at least subdued, by having the A.I. focus on one thing. In the case of Juliana, the Rubble and its inhabitants. Forerunner A.I.s are also succeptible to rampancy, but have a much longer, or possibly infinite, time limit and tend to become rampant because of outside influences. The "seven years" is also another obvious reference to Bungie's favorite number.
   
Humans use A.I.s, both "Smart" or "Dumb", to perform a variety of specific tasks. These include, but are not limited to, controlling planetary shipping operations, like [[Sif]], managing agricultural operations, like [[Mack]], or serving as a [[Planetary Security Intelligence]], like [[Loki]]. One example of civilian use for "Dumb" A.I.s is managing an entire city's infrastructure. These constructs are known as Urban Infrastructure A.I.s. All of [[Earth]]'s [[space elevator|tether]] cities are managed with the help of such construct. Urban Infrastructure A.I.s perform a wide variety of basic tasks, examples such as driving the city's garbage trucks to operating the traffic lights. They can also work in cooperation with the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] if needed. One example of this is the [[Battle of Mombasa]], when [[New Mombasa]]'s A.I., the [[Superintendent]], assisted the UNSC forces in the city in fighting off the Covenant.
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Humans use A.I.s, both "Smart" or "Dumb", to perform a variety of specific tasks. These include, but are not limited to, controlling planetary shipping operations, like [[Sif]], managing agricultural operations, like [[Mack]], or serving as a [[Planetary Security Intelligence]], like [[Loki]]. One example of civilian use for "Dumb" A.I.s is managing an entire city's infrastructure. These constructs are known as Urban Infrastructure A.I.s. All of [[Earth]]'s [[space elevator|tether]] cities are managed with the help of such construct's. Urban Infrastructure A.I.s perform a wide variety of basic tasks, examples such as driving the city's garbage trucks to operating the traffic lights. They can also work in cooperation with the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] if needed. One example of this is the [[Battle of Mombasa]], when [[New Mombasa]]'s A.I., the [[Superintendent]], assisted the UNSC forces in the city in fighting off the Covenant.
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  +
There are several generations of "Smart" A.I. The first-generation, an improved second-generation, the third-generation (developed from living brain tissue), and the hypothetical fourth-generation (developed by existing A.I.s).
   
 
The [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] states that capture of an A.I. by the Covenant is unacceptable. When in danger of capture, A.I.s are to be terminated and completely erased. However, the A.I. Cortana did find what seemed to be an extremely fragmented copy of a human A.I. stationed in the Covenant flagship, ''[[Ascendant Justice]]''.
 
The [[United Nations Space Command Emergency Priority Order 098831A-1|Cole Protocol]] states that capture of an A.I. by the Covenant is unacceptable. When in danger of capture, A.I.s are to be terminated and completely erased. However, the A.I. Cortana did find what seemed to be an extremely fragmented copy of a human A.I. stationed in the Covenant flagship, ''[[Ascendant Justice]]''.
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UNSC AI are more independent than humans realize.<ref>''Halo: Reach'' [[Data pads|data pads]]</ref> AIs are also very loyal and devoted to their creators.
   
 
===Known Human A.I.s===
 
===Known Human A.I.s===
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*[[Auntie Dot]] - Monitored and assisted Noble Team during the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], and kept the team's members connected while they were embarking on separate missions.
 
*[[Auntie Dot]] - Monitored and assisted Noble Team during the [[Fall of Reach|Battle of Reach]], and kept the team's members connected while they were embarking on separate missions.
 
*[[Beowulf]] - Was the attaché to [[Admiral]] [[Hieronymus Michael Stanforth|Michael Stanforth]] and the [[UNSC Navy]].
 
*[[Beowulf]] - Was the attaché to [[Admiral]] [[Hieronymus Michael Stanforth|Michael Stanforth]] and the [[UNSC Navy]].
  +
* [[Black Box|Black-Box]] - Personal A.I of [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Serin Osman]].
 
*Chauncey - UNSC ''Red Horse'''s old Smart A.I.
 
*Chauncey - UNSC ''Red Horse'''s old Smart A.I.
 
*Copperfield - UNSC ''Prophecy'' - Planet Bliss
 
*Copperfield - UNSC ''Prophecy'' - Planet Bliss
 
*[[Cortana]] - CTN 0452-9 - UNSC Military A.I. (Third Generation Smart A.I.)
 
*[[Cortana]] - CTN 0452-9 - UNSC Military A.I. (Third Generation Smart A.I.)
*[[Deep Winter]] - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet [[Onyx]], succeeding [[Eternal Spring]]. (Fifth Generation Smart A.I.).
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*[[Deep Winter]] - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet [[Trevelyan|Onyx]], succeeding [[Eternal Spring]]. (Fifth Generation Smart A.I.).
 
*[[Déjà]] - ONI A.I., served as teacher to the SPARTAN-IIs, helped oversee the SPARTAN Augmentation Process. (Second Generation Dumb A.I.)
 
*[[Déjà]] - ONI A.I., served as teacher to the SPARTAN-IIs, helped oversee the SPARTAN Augmentation Process. (Second Generation Dumb A.I.)
 
*[[Doppler]] - MIL AI 8575 - UNSC Military A.I.
 
*[[Doppler]] - MIL AI 8575 - UNSC Military A.I.
 
*[[Endless Summer]] - MIL A.I. 4279 - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet Onyx, succeeding Deep Winter. (Fifth Generation Smart A.I.)
 
*[[Endless Summer]] - MIL A.I. 4279 - Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet Onyx, succeeding Deep Winter. (Fifth Generation Smart A.I.)
*[[Eternal Spring]] - First Known Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet [[Onyx]], aided in reconnaissance of Zone 67. (Fourth Generation Smart A.I.)
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*[[Eternal Spring]] - First Known Overseer of UNSC facilities on planet [[Trevelyan|Onyx]], aided in reconnaissance of Zone 67. (Fourth Generation Smart A.I.)
 
*[[FitzGibbon]] - Was the ship-board A.I. of the UNSC ''Prophecy'' during the Second Battle of Harvest.
 
*[[FitzGibbon]] - Was the ship-board A.I. of the UNSC ''Prophecy'' during the Second Battle of Harvest.
 
*[[Iona]] - A.I. attached to [[Team Black|Black Team]].
 
*[[Iona]] - A.I. attached to [[Team Black|Black Team]].
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*[[Pallas Athena]] - [[Boston Public Library]] AI
 
*[[Pallas Athena]] - [[Boston Public Library]] AI
 
*[[Phoenix]] - corroborated conclusions of Cole's continuing survival with [[Codename: SURGEON]] and another AI, Lackluster
 
*[[Phoenix]] - corroborated conclusions of Cole's continuing survival with [[Codename: SURGEON]] and another AI, Lackluster
*[[Roland (A.I)]]- [[UNSC Infinity]]? "smart" A.I.
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*[[Roland (AI)|Roland]]- Shipboard A.I. of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}. "Smart" A.I.
 
*[[Rebecca]] - UNSC ''Red Horse'''s Smart A.I.
 
*[[Rebecca]] - UNSC ''Red Horse'''s Smart A.I.
 
*[[Sekmet]] - Shipboard A.I. of [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]]'s flagship, {{UNSCShip|Everest}}.
 
*[[Sekmet]] - Shipboard A.I. of [[Preston Jeremiah Cole|Preston Cole]]'s flagship, {{UNSCShip|Everest}}.
*[[Serina]] - UNSC A.I., served aboard the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire''.
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*[[Serina]] - UNSC A.I., served aboard the {{UNSCShip|Spirit of Fire}}.
 
*[[Sif]] - Colonial Authority A.I./Shipping Operations.
 
*[[Sif]] - Colonial Authority A.I./Shipping Operations.
 
*[[Solipsil]] - An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] A.I.
 
*[[Solipsil]] - An [[Office of Naval Intelligence|ONI]] A.I.
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==Forerunner A.I.s==
 
==Forerunner A.I.s==
[[File:200px-Spark-halo3.jpg|thumb|right|230px|An example of a [[Forerunner]] AI, the infamous [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 04]], [[343 Guilty Spark]].]]
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[[File:200px-Spark-halo3.jpg|thumb|right|230px|An example of a [[Forerunner]] AI, the Monitor of [[Installation 04]], [[343 Guilty Spark]].]]
 
As exemplified by the Monitors, the [[Forerunner]]s have developed a civilization with an extremely advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies. Forerunner A.I.s have managed to achieve full sentience and are highly intelligent.
   
 
The manner in which Forerunner A.I.s are created is unknown, yet is probably very different from the [[human]] method of cloning the intelligence of a sentient organism. Monitors, and possibly other Forerunner A.I.s are physically represented by large, shielded and spherical metallic "robots" whom possess a single "eye", which is possibly used to perceive the monitor's physical surroundings. The most well known of Forerunner A.I.s are the protocol-obsessed Monitors, made famous by [[343 Guilty Spark]] and his quirky (and somewhat unstable) nature.
As exemplified by the [[Monitor]]s, the [[Forerunner]]s have developed a civilization with an extremely advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies. Forerunner A.I.s have managed to achieve full sentience and are highly intelligent.
 
   
 
One method the Forerunners have to create A.I. is with [[The Composer]], which instead of just analyzing the cerebral cortex alone to create an A.I., it destroys the victims flesh, muscle tissue, vital organs, followed by the skeletal structure and reducing them to ash. This process removes the consciousness of its victims in order to implement them into [[Promethean Knight]] constructs. However due to the lack of morality behind the Composers' very nature, The Librarian took it and hid it on [[Installation 03]] to prevent The Didact from using it.
The manner in which Forerunner A.I.s are created is unknown, yet is probably very different from the [[human]] method of cloning the intelligence of a sentient organism. Monitors, and possibly other Forerunner A.I.s are physically represented by large, shielded and spherical metallic "robots" whom possess a single "eye", which is possibly used to perceive the monitor's physical surroundings. The most well known of Forerunner A.I.s are the protocol-obsessed [[Monitor]]s, made famous by [[343 Guilty Spark]] and his quirky (and somewhat unstable) nature.
 
   
  +
[[Promethean Crawler]]s, [[Promethean Watcher]]s, and [[Sentinels]] are all examples of Forerunner artificial intelligence.
One method the Forerunners have to create A.I is with [[The Composer]], which instead of just analyzing the cerebral cortex alone to create an A.I., it strips away the victims flesh, muscle tissue, vital organs, followed by the skeletal structure: reducing them to ash which is then scanned and absorbed by the Composer in order to create [[Prometheans]]. However due to the lack of morality behind the Composers' very nature, The Librarian took it and hid it on [[Installation 03]] to prevent The Didact from using it.
 
   
 
===Known Forerunner A.I.s===
 
===Known Forerunner A.I.s===
*049 Abject Testament - Monitor of Installation 03
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*[[049 Abject Testament]] - Monitor of [[Installation 03]]
 
*[[343 Guilty Spark]] - Monitor of [[Installation 04]]
 
*[[343 Guilty Spark]] - Monitor of [[Installation 04]]
 
*[[2401 Penitent Tangent]] - Monitor of [[Installation 05]].
 
*[[2401 Penitent Tangent]] - Monitor of [[Installation 05]].
*[[05-032 Mendicant Bias]] - Wartime A.I., overseer of Defense Plan against the Flood, defected from the Forerunners by the Gravemind.
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*[[032 Mendicant Bias]] - Wartime A.I., overseer of Defense Plan against the Flood, defected from the Forerunners by the Gravemind.
 
*[[Offensive Bias]] - Wartime A.I., replacement to and destroyer of Mendicant Bias.
 
*[[Offensive Bias]] - Wartime A.I., replacement to and destroyer of Mendicant Bias.
*[[Unnamed Forerunner AI|Unnamed Forerunner A.I]]. - A.I. on the [[Shield World (Halo Wars)|Flood-Controlled Shield World]].
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*[[Unnamed Forerunner A.I]]. - A.I. of [[Shield 0459]].
*[[Cold Storage Monitor]] - AI overseer of a [[Cold Storage|flood research facility]] on Installation 05.
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*[[Cold Storage Monitor]] - AI overseer of a [[Cold Storage|Flood research facility]] on Installation 05.
 
*[[AdjutantReflex]] - "A.I." that acted for Bungie on their forums during the ''Iris'' ARG.
 
*[[AdjutantReflex]] - "A.I." that acted for Bungie on their forums during the ''Iris'' ARG.
 
*[[686 Ebullient Prism]] - Monitor of [[Line Installation 1-4]].
 
*[[686 Ebullient Prism]] - Monitor of [[Line Installation 1-4]].
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{{Main|Associated Intelligence}}
 
{{Main|Associated Intelligence}}
 
So far only two types of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] A.I.s (Security and Naval) have ever been encountered within the universe. Their knowledge in this type of technology appears to be inferior to that of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the Forerunner, as demonstrated by the fact that their A.I.s were most likely captured UNSC A.I.s, which were altered to fit within their theocratic society.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> This is likely because of the former ban on A.I.s. In Covenant mythology, it was an A.I. that lead to the demise of the great [[Forerunner]] civilization by defecting to their enemies, the [[Flood]]. As a result, the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets]] imposed a ban on this sort of technology, a ban which has apparently been broken on more than one occasion.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref> The ban may be an explanation for their less-developed understanding of artificial intelligences.
 
So far only two types of [[Covenant Empire|Covenant]] A.I.s (Security and Naval) have ever been encountered within the universe. Their knowledge in this type of technology appears to be inferior to that of the [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] and the Forerunner, as demonstrated by the fact that their A.I.s were most likely captured UNSC A.I.s, which were altered to fit within their theocratic society.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]'''</ref> This is likely because of the former ban on A.I.s. In Covenant mythology, it was an A.I. that lead to the demise of the great [[Forerunner]] civilization by defecting to their enemies, the [[Flood]]. As a result, the [[San 'Shyuum|Prophets]] imposed a ban on this sort of technology, a ban which has apparently been broken on more than one occasion.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]'''</ref> The ban may be an explanation for their less-developed understanding of artificial intelligences.
 
==Goals==
 
It is revealed in ''[[Halo: Reach]]'', via [[data pads]] (especially the legendary ones) that UNSC A.I.s are far more independent than humans think. A.I. are however fiercely loyal and devoted to their creators. This devotion (that appears to be not unlike Covenant devotion to the Forerunners) is even increased when one A.I., shortly before the [[Fall of Reach]], was ''made flesh'' - her mind relocated into a human body. (As a side note, the religious parallelism is rather obvious.)
 
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
 
*[[Mack]] and [[Endless Summer]] are the only AIs known to have procrastinated doing something.
*Smart A.I.s enter rampancy after ''[[list of "seven" references in Halo|seven]]'' years of operation. This is yet another Bungie "7" reference.
 
*[[Mack]] and Endless Summer are the only known A.I.s to procrastinate something.
 
   
 
==Gallery==
 
==Gallery==
 
<gallery widths="120" orientation="portrait">
 
<gallery widths="120" orientation="portrait">
File:PT2401.JPG|A [[Forerunner]] AI, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], the [[Monitor]] of [[Installation 05]].
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PT2401.JPG|A [[Forerunner]] AI, [[2401 Penitent Tangent]], the Monitor of [[Installation 05]].
File:FitzGibbon.png|[[FitzGibbon]], AI of the {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}}.
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FitzGibbon.png|[[FitzGibbon]], AI of the {{UNSCShip|Prophecy}}.
File:Superintendant-alone.svg|The [[Superintendent]], Urban Infrastructure AI of the city of [[New Mombasa]].
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Superintendant-alone.svg|The [[Superintendent]], Urban Infrastructure AI of the city of [[New Mombasa]].
File:Originsmendicant.jpg|[[05-032 Mendicant Bias]] shortly before going rampant and turning over to the [[Flood]].
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Originsmendicant.jpg|[[032 Mendicant Bias]] shortly before going rampant and turning over to the [[Flood]].
 
Cortanaintro.jpg|Cortana, a human AI
 
Cortanaintro.jpg|Cortana, a human AI
File:Deja.png|[[Deja]]
+
Deja.png|[[Déjà]]
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
 
{{Reflist|2}}
 
{{Reflist|2}}
[[Category:Human A.I.]]
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[[Category:A.I.]]
[[Category:Covenant A.I.]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:Forerunner A.I.]]
 

Revision as of 17:34, 18 March 2015

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Cortana Halo 3

The human AI Cortana has female programming and a blue avatar.

“
The problem for an A.I. isn't doing a thousand things at once. It's slowing down and imparting all that information to humans. I love you all to bits, but you're something of a bottleneck in my processes.
”


Artificial intelligence, abbreviated A.I., is an artificially created construct that exhibits intelligence similar to a sentient being. AIs were known to be used by the Forerunners, and later by humanity to a great extent. The first generation "Smart" A.I.s were developed by humanity in the mid-21st century.[1]

Most A.I. constructs give themselves a unique appearance (otherwise known as an avatar) that corresponds to their main use.

Creation

The process of creating an A.I. is different to what most people realize. Instead of simply "programming" a Smart AI, the A.I. matrix is actually 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 destroys the original brain tissue however, and so the brain being used could only be obtained after the host had died. However, in some instances, as in the case of the A.I. Cortana, the candidate brain was flash-cloned and had its memories transferred to the receptacle organs so that the host, in this case Dr. Catherine Halsey, could remain alive. However, this is extremely inefficient. In the case of Cortana, out of twenty of Dr. Halsey's cloned brains, only two of them took.

Dr. Halsey supervised the creation of the template for every third-generation "Smart" A.I. on the planet Reach. She has extensive knowledge on how A.I.s work.

Smart and Dumb A.I.s

Smart AIs, or A.I.s that are not confined to their one purpose, have a normal operational life span of about seven years. Because the "Smart" A.I. is subject to an established memory core which cannot be replaced, the more the A.I. collects data, the less "thinking" space it has to work with. An A.I. will literally "think" itself to death. Dumb A.I.s do not have this problem as they do not learn anything that is outside of their set limits of a dynamic memory processing matrix. They are quite useful in their particular field of expertise, but very limited. Smart A.I.s can function and learn as long as they are active.[2]

Rampancy

Rampant343

343 Guilty Spark in a stage of Rampancy shortly before his destruction.

Main article: Rampancy

If a "smart" human A.I. exists for over seven years, it usually enters a stage of rampancy similar to the human state of insanity. The A.I. begins to think that it is superior to its human creators, and has delusions of godlike power.[3] However, the impression that Halo: The Fall of Reach and Halo: First Strike give is that the A.I. would lose all combat effectiveness by being permanently locked in a state of thought, like daydreaming - the description given is "as if a human were to think with so much of their brain that they stopped sending impulses to the heart and lungs." This is because as the data reaches a "critical mass" the neural pathways become "jammed" with so many pieces of information being queried and analysed, at expense of tasks such as piloting starships or monitoring computer networks.

343 Guilty Spark, the Forerunner Monitor, went rampant after Sgt. Johnson threatened to destroy the replacement for his Installation, showing that even Forerunner A.I.s can go rampant and that A.I.s can go rampant when severely upset or threatened. The Forerunner A.I. 032 Mendicant Bias went rampant, as it tried to stop the Forerunners from activating the Halo Array after being convinced by the Gravemind to do so. The Covenant A.I. in Halo: First Strike also went rampant after it attacked Cortana, and Cortana herself went rampant for a time while imprisoned in High Charity.

Design

It is technically unclear exactly how an A.I. works, as it is only based on the functionality of a human brain, which UNSC scientists do not fully understand. AIs do not have physical bodies, rather they are advanced software consisting of 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 A.I. Since A.I.s must be created by mapping out the connections of a human brain, it seems likely that the UNSC does not have an understanding of how to create A.I.s from scratch, and is limited to simply "copying" the intelligence of biological organisms. In the real world, this is an established possibility for creating artificial intelligence.

They can only take physical form where holographic technology is available. This requires a Holotank of some kind.

Because "Smart" A.I.s are created using either actual human brains or cloned human brains, there are residual thoughts, memories and/or feelings that remain. These residuals can be anywhere from the "feeling" of a hair brush being pulled through hair, in the case of Sif, or even have an effect on the mannerisms and characteristics that make up the personality of an A.I., in the case of Cortana and her likeness to Dr. Catherine Halsey.

Human A.I.s

Other than the two types, "Dumb" and "Smart," human A.I.s are given certain purposes. Over the course of a few hundred years, humans have developed a highly advanced understanding of this type of technology, and are capable of creating intelligent and nearly sentient "Smart" A.I.s. However, these beings are not the result of actual programming, they can only be created by "copying" a human intelligence, which is only possible by destroying the original brain. The most sophisticated of human A.I.s are sometimes considered to be comparable to known Forerunner A.I.s. Human Smart A.I.s have an "expiration" date of seven years. Once they have reached this age, they will become very susceptible to rampancy, as has been demonstrated in the Insurrectionist A.I. Juliana. This time limit can (in theory) be prevented, or at least subdued, by having the A.I. focus on one thing. In the case of Juliana, the Rubble and its inhabitants. Forerunner A.I.s are also succeptible to rampancy, but have a much longer, or possibly infinite, time limit and tend to become rampant because of outside influences. The "seven years" is also another obvious reference to Bungie's favorite number.

Humans use A.I.s, both "Smart" or "Dumb", to perform a variety of specific tasks. These include, but are not limited to, controlling planetary shipping operations, like Sif, managing agricultural operations, like Mack, or serving as a Planetary Security Intelligence, like Loki. One example of civilian use for "Dumb" A.I.s is managing an entire city's infrastructure. These constructs are known as Urban Infrastructure A.I.s. All of Earth's tether cities are managed with the help of such construct's. Urban Infrastructure A.I.s perform a wide variety of basic tasks, examples such as driving the city's garbage trucks to operating the traffic lights. They can also work in cooperation with the UNSC Marines if needed. One example of this is the Battle of Mombasa, when New Mombasa's A.I., the Superintendent, assisted the UNSC forces in the city in fighting off the Covenant.

There are several generations of "Smart" A.I. The first-generation, an improved second-generation, the third-generation (developed from living brain tissue), and the hypothetical fourth-generation (developed by existing A.I.s).

The Cole Protocol states that capture of an A.I. by the Covenant is unacceptable. When in danger of capture, A.I.s are to be terminated and completely erased. However, the A.I. Cortana did find what seemed to be an extremely fragmented copy of a human A.I. stationed in the Covenant flagship, Ascendant Justice.

UNSC AI are more independent than humans realize.[4] AIs are also very loyal and devoted to their creators.

Known Human A.I.s

Serina

The avatar of the human AI Serina.

Forerunner A.I.s

200px-Spark-halo3

An example of a Forerunner AI, the Monitor of Installation 04, 343 Guilty Spark.

As exemplified by the Monitors, the Forerunners have developed a civilization with an extremely advanced knowledge of artificial intelligence technologies. Forerunner A.I.s have managed to achieve full sentience and are highly intelligent.

The manner in which Forerunner A.I.s are created is unknown, yet is probably very different from the human method of cloning the intelligence of a sentient organism. Monitors, and possibly other Forerunner A.I.s are physically represented by large, shielded and spherical metallic "robots" whom possess a single "eye", which is possibly used to perceive the monitor's physical surroundings. The most well known of Forerunner A.I.s are the protocol-obsessed Monitors, made famous by 343 Guilty Spark and his quirky (and somewhat unstable) nature.

One method the Forerunners have to create A.I. is with The Composer, which instead of just analyzing the cerebral cortex alone to create an A.I., it destroys the victims flesh, muscle tissue, vital organs, followed by the skeletal structure and reducing them to ash. This process removes the consciousness of its victims in order to implement them into Promethean Knight constructs. However due to the lack of morality behind the Composers' very nature, The Librarian took it and hid it on Installation 03 to prevent The Didact from using it.

Promethean Crawlers, Promethean Watchers, and Sentinels are all examples of Forerunner artificial intelligence.

Known Forerunner A.I.s

Covenant A.I.s

Main article: Associated Intelligence

So far only two types of Covenant A.I.s (Security and Naval) have ever been encountered within the universe. Their knowledge in this type of technology appears to be inferior to that of the UNSC and the Forerunner, as demonstrated by the fact that their A.I.s were most likely captured UNSC A.I.s, which were altered to fit within their theocratic society.[5] This is likely because of the former ban on A.I.s. In Covenant mythology, it was an A.I. that lead to the demise of the great Forerunner civilization by defecting to their enemies, the Flood. As a result, the Prophets imposed a ban on this sort of technology, a ban which has apparently been broken on more than one occasion.[6] The ban may be an explanation for their less-developed understanding of artificial intelligences.

Trivia

Gallery

Sources

  1. Halo: Contact Harvest, page 30
  2. Halo: The Fall of Reach, page 235
  3. "For a Smart AI, self-absorption invariably led to a deep depression caused by a realization that it could never really be human-that even its incredible mind had limits. If the AI wasn’t careful, this melancholy could drag its core logic into a terminal state known as rampancy, in which an AI rebelled against its programmatic constraints-developed delusions of godlike power as well as utter contempt for its more inferior, human makers. When that happened, there was really no option but to terminate the AI before it could do itself and others serious harm.", Halo: Contact Harvest, page 31
  4. Halo: Reach data pads
  5. Halo: First Strike
  6. Halo: Contact Harvest