Ancilla: Difference between revisions

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Ancilla was a Forerunner term for an artificial intelligence construct. They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities.

Background

Ancillas could be housed within personal shells like those of the Monitors, as well as ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. The most powerful ancillas, next to the Contender-class, were the Metarch-class ancillas. Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a metarchy; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a Metarch. Ancillas possessed varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner.^[1] The Forerunners used software known as AI suppressors to disable ancillas.^[2]

Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's body armor and could be accessed by the user at will for information and guidance. Most personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner; however, an ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor.^[3] For a Manipular, a personal ancilla made itself easily "visible" and readily accessible to the young Forerunner. But once the Forerunner mutated to first-form, the ancilla made itself less visible so it can divert power to other tasks, making it more difficult for the user to access them. It is also apparent that ancillas helped Forerunners access the Domain after mutation.

Varieties

Trivia

Bornstellar's relationship with the Librarian's ancilla is similar to that of John-117 and Cortana. Like Cortana, Bornstellar describes his ancilla as a "blue female figure in the back of his mind" who can be stored within his body armor, and relies upon her for guidance and help in many situations.
"Ancilla" is Latin for 'female slave', 'female servant' or 'maid'.

List of appearances

Halo: The Flood (2010) (Mentioned only)
The Forerunner Saga
- Halo: Cryptum (First appearance)

Sources

^ Halo: Cryptum, page 242
^ Halo: Cryptum, page 194
^ Halo: Cryptum, page 108

[1] Halo: Cryptum, page 242

[2] Halo: Cryptum, page 194

[3] Halo: Cryptum, page 108

[1]

[2]

[3]

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 {{Era|Forerunner}}
-'''Ancillas''' are a type of [[Forerunner]] [[artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence construct]]. They come in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities. Known models include the [[Monitor]]s, the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class AIs]], and the personal ancillas carried by most Forerunners.
+'''Ancilla''' was a [[Forerunner]] term for an [[artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence construct]]. They came in several varieties, each designed for different purposes and possessing differing capabilities.
 ==Background==
-Ancillas can be stored within a Forerunner's [[Forerunner body armor|body armor]] and can be accessed by the user at will. They can also be housed within personal shells like those of the [[Monitor]]s, as well as ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. Ancillas possess varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner;<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> despite this, it is unclear whether their personalities are merely simulated or if they are actually self-aware like [[human]] [[Smart artificial intelligence|"Smart" AIs]].
+Ancillas could be housed within personal shells like those of the [[Monitor]]s, as well as ships, buildings, and various forms of machinery. The most powerful ancillas, next to the [[Contender-class artificial intelligence|Contender-class]], were the [[Metarch|Metarch-class]] ancillas. Not all ancillas assumed visible form, such as those that operated within a [[metarchy]]; a vast network of ancillas coordinated by a Metarch. Ancillas possessed varying personalities, often approximating that of a Forerunner.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 242''</ref> The Forerunners used software known as [[Artificial intelligence suppressor|AI suppressors]] to disable ancillas.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 194''</ref>
-The most powerful ancillas, next to the Contender-class, are the [[Metarch|Metarch-class]] ancillas which were used exclusively by the [[Forerunner Council]]. When a Forerunners is a [[Manipular]], a personal ancilla makes itself easily "visible" and readily accessible to the young Forerunner. But once the Forerunner [[Forerunner mutation|mutates]] to [[Form|first-form]], the ancilla makes itself less visible so it can divert power to other tasks, making it much harder for the user to access them. It is also apparent that ancillas help Forerunners access the [[Domain]] after mutation. Interestingly, an armor's personal ancilla would assume the form of the species wearing the armor.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 108''</ref>
+Ancillas were also stored within a Forerunner's [[Forerunner body armor|body armor]] and could be accessed by the user at will for information and guidance. Most personal ancillas assumed the form of a blue female Forerunner; however, an ancilla's appearance would be modeled according to the species of the individual wearing the armor.<ref>'''Halo: Cryptum''', ''page 108''</ref> For a [[Manipular]], a personal ancilla made itself easily "visible" and readily accessible to the young Forerunner. But once the Forerunner [[Forerunner mutation|mutated]] to [[Form|first-form]], the ancilla made itself less visible so it can divert power to other tasks, making it more difficult for the user to access them. It is also apparent that ancillas helped Forerunners access the [[Domain]] after mutation.
 ==Varieties==