Editing Smart AI

{{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}}

As with "dumb" AIs, every "smart" AI represents itself through a self-assigned holographic [[avatar]].<ref>'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 111''</ref> Avatars can range from the complex and theatrical, such as those of [[Araqiel]] and [[Deep Winter]], to simpler human forms such as those of [[Melissa (AI)|Melissa]], [[Cortana]], and [[Serina]]. The appearance of an AI's avatar is sometimes derived from the physical traits of the person they are created from; for example, Cortana resembles a younger version of Dr. Halsey.

[[Catherine Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]] worked extensively with smart 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 Powered Assault Armor|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 on [[2552|August 29, 2552]].<ref>'''[[Dr. Halsey's personal journal]]''', ''March 24, 2549''</ref> Dr. Halsey also had her brain [[flash cloning|flash cloned]], which in turn was scanned to create the AI Cortana.<ref>'''Halo: The Fall of Reach''', ''page 18''</ref> However, this was considered highly illegal and unethical.<ref name="journal">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''Dr. Halsey's personal journal''</ref> She later replicated the process to create [[the Weapon]] who is stated to be an exact copy of Cortana. As such, the Weapon is able to imitate her and fool [[Installation 07]]'s systems into believing that she ''is'' Cortana so that the Weapon can lock Cortana down for deletion.{{Ref/Reuse|Audio logs}}

Despite the fact that "smart" AIs are essentially trans-human minds, they lack many of the legal rights accorded to human beings,<ref name="hst">'''Halo: Saint's Testimony'''</ref> and their activities are closely monitored.<ref name="pads">'''[[Halo: Reach]]''', ''[[Data pads]]''</ref> While most smart AIs have traditionally served in a subservient capacity, there are exceptions to this: for example, the AI [[Sloan]] was democratically elected to the position of [[governor]] of the corporate colony on [[Meridian]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/characters/governor-sloan '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Governor Sloan'']</ref> 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 [[The Assembly|Assembly]], a collective that worked to preserve the human race, without humanity's knowledge. The group existed for centuries, and influenced many important events in human history.{{Ref/Reuse|pads}}

 

Due to their imagination and limited lifespan, smart AIs are intrigued by existential philosophy, such as [[Religion#Zen|Zen koans]].<ref>'''Halo: Ghosts of Onyx''', ''page 178''</ref>

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}}

 

 

 

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}}

When [[Cortana]] showed obvious signs of rampancy, [[Captain]] [[Andrew Del Rio]] ordered her chip removed by [[Commander]] [[Thomas Lasky]] for final dispensation. However, [[John-117]] removed the chip first in order to go after the [[Ur-Didact]] and disobeyed direct orders to turn the chip over.

*[[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]].

*[[Serina]] - SNA 1292-4 - UNSC AI, served aboard the UNSC ''Spirit of Fire''.

*[[Chauncey]] - {{UNSCShip|Red Horse}}'s old smart AI.

*[[Juliana]] - Commercial AI operating in [[Madrigal]], unpacked after the planet's destruction by the Covenant to control [[the Rubble]]'s guidance and maneuvering.  

*[[Leo]] - Office of Naval Intelligence AI.

*[[Leonidas]] - Administrative AI of [[Laconia Station]], [[Naxos Station]], and [[Virgo Station]].

*[[Lorelei]] - Ship AI of the {{CMAShip|Season of Plenty}}

*[[Rooker]] - RKR 1206-5 - Office of Naval Intelligence AI, Station AI for the research facility ''[[Argent Moon]]''.

Smart AIs' seven-year lifespans are a reference to [[Bungie]]'s favorite number, [[seven]].

*''[[Halo Mythos]]''

==Notes==

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