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}}

The first smart AI was created in the mid-21st century. At first, there was great concern that this new technology would become too capable and render [[human]] intelligence obsolete. The ability for vocal expression was added to make smart AIs less threatening, allowing them to converse on the same level as their masters. Over time, such AIs became more advanced.{{Ref/Reuse|CH1}} Due to their uninhibited matrix design, "smart" AIs proved capable of intellectual development. This is manifested in that they can actively learn from and adapt to situations and events. Conversely, their counterparts, the so-called "dumb" AIs, can not; while extremely competent in their designated tasks and fields of expertise, they are 'merely' highly-advanced computer programs and are not capable of intuition.{{Ref/Reuse|FoR}} Like all AIs, smart AIs use a [[Riemann matrix]] for higher-function processing. This matrix, typically housed in the crystalline computing cluster of a data center,<ref>'''Halo: Contact Harvest''', ''page 182''</ref> can be downloaded into a [[data crystal chip]] for mobility. The Riemann matrix includes a secret fail-safe that can be used to destroy the AI in the event of [[rampancy]] or if there is a risk of the AI's data becoming compromised.<ref>'''[[Halo: First Strike]]''', ''page 128''</ref>

[[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}}

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.

[[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]].

*[[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''.

*[[Gabriela]] - GBA 0983-6 - AI caretaker of [[Outpost Discovery]], recovered from the {{UNSCShip|Promise of Dawn}}.

*[[Roland (AI)|Roland]] - RLD 0205-4 - UNSC AI, Shipboard AI of the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}} as of [[2558]].

*[[Aine]] - ANE 3567-7 - UNSC AI specializing in ship construction, temporarily served on the {{UNSCShip|Infinity}}.

*[[Athos]] -  ATH 1409-3 - Office of Naval Intelligence, AI assigned on a mission alongside [[Linda-058]].

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

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

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

*[[The Weapon]] - CTN 0453-0 - A copy of [[Cortana]] that was created by Dr. Halsey in order to lock down and delete Cortana after she became the leader of the [[Created]].

==Notes==

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