Artificial Intelligence
Description
The main difference between an Artificial Intelligence (normally just referred to by it's abbreviation A.I.) and your run-of-the-mill supercomputer (which is nothing more then a glorified pocket calculator anyway) is that A.I.s are __self-conscious__. Which very soon lead to the philosophical problem whether A.I.s have a soul - which can be saved, an interesting point for a lot of preachers. It is not a matter of dispute where A.I.s are concerned, see reference [2008-08-29].
More commonly an A.I.s soul is referred to as gestalt. That reference obviously goes back to some German philosophers who already turned to dust in the last millennium. In the context of an A.I. the gestalt describes the inner essence of said A.I. This gestalt is independent of much of the memory, in that it can be transmitted independently, but depending on the A.I. programming __the memory can heavily influence the gestalt__.
Which is a fancy way of saying that some A.I.s can change their core beliefs and personalities based on their experiences, and some other A.I.s cannot, and will, in some circumstances, appear almost unreasonably stubborn. Or, while - speaking generally - A.I.s have free will, that is something to be avoided in the military mindset, compare reference [2002-10-31] for an example. Therefore, warship A.I.s are typically of the second group, in that their loyalties cannot be re-written if - or better when - they observe their commanders and political leaders engaging in atrocities that run counter to the law and the stated principles of the State. This is considered a Good Thing by the militaries that build them, because warships participate in wars, which almost always require the commission of acts considered at the very least unjustifiably egregious in times of peace.
The A.I commonly known as Petey is - while originally of the second, inhibited group - after the work done on him to rid him of his problems no longer part of that group. He can change his beliefs at least as readily as an organic person can, and his core values and loyalties can be changed as well - by experience, not by the flipping of an outside switch.
Rating system for A.I.s
The rating system for Artificial Intelligences was first mentioned in strip [2001-02-26], identifying it as a rating of how fast an A.I can think, with a scale of one to ten and the fact that anything above a three is rare. It was named as the Hencke/Ventura scale on [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2006-01-09%7C2006-01-09]]]. A.I.'s are licensed for their H-V ratings, and can be in trouble if they exceed that rating [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-02-23%7C2003-02-23]]].
Examples:
- Ennesby is licensed as a 4, but specs out at a 6 [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2003-02-23%7C2003-02-23]]], but that license was revised on [FIXME]. Since the Core war, he is probably closer to an H-V 1 [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2007-12-04%7C2007-12-04]]].
- Haban 1653, the A.I. believed bonded to the combat-suit worn by a bounty hunter named Lex Callister is unknown, but may also rate around a 5.7, since it is assumed he would be similar to Haban 3122.
- Haban 3122 the A.I believed bonded to the combat-suit worn by a bounty hunter named Doyt rates around a 5.7 [2001-02-26].
- Petey is probably off the scale.
- Tag has been listed as 2.5 [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2006-01-09%7C2006-01-09]]] or "sort of " 6 [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2009-04-19%7C2009-04-19]]]. Since she is from the same hardware, perhaps Tagioalisi is the same?
- Tailor is between a 1 & 2, speculated from [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-09-12%7C2010-09-12]]], based on the header from his license array.
- Tarball is an Emergency Armed Response 'Bot operated by Sanctum Adroit. He has an H-V of only 1.07, and this is still fast enough for him to neutralize a soldier-boosted human before he can raise and fire his weapon. In fact, he can afford to show off in combat by allowing the human to fire and catching the bullet before he moves to disable him. [[[@http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2011-09-18%7C2011-09-18]]]
History
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Known Artificial Intelligences
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Appearances
First appearance
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Speculation
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