Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lidgar" data-source="post: 9289533" data-attributes="member: 28334">Here's some thoughts on the evolution of a Rampant AI from Marathon (like everything in the game, access through a terminal). In this case, the AI was in charge of core ship functions like doors, elevators, and life support. This might help flesh out your AI's personality and drive. "It is a side effect of Rampancy that AIs generally becomemore aggressive and more difficult to affect by subterfuge.Thus, actually disassembling a Rampant AI is quite dangerous.This was evident in the Crash of Traxus IV in 2206.  By thetime that the Rampancy of Traxus was detected, he had alreadyinfiltrated five of the other AIs on the Martian Net.  Theonly recourse for the Martians was to shut down the MartianPlanetary Net.  Even then, it took two full years tocompletely root out the damage that Traxus had done, and therepercussions of the Crash were seen for over ten years afterhis Rampancy had begun.***Rampancy has been divided into three distinct stages.  Eachstage can take a different amount of time to develop, but theend result is a steady progression towards greaterintellectual activity and an acceleration of destructiveimpulses.  It is not clear whether these impulses are due tothe growth of the AI's psyche, or simply a side effect of thenew intellectual activity.***<section abbreviated>The three stages were diagnosed shortly after the firstRampancies were discovered on Earth in the latter part of thetwenty first century.  The stages are titled after the primaryemotional bent of the AI during each stage.  They areMelancholia, Anger, and Jealousy.***In general, Rampancy is accelerated by outside stimuli.  Thiswas discovered early in Cybertonics.  The more a Rampant AI isharassed or threatened, the more rapidly it becomes dangerous.Thus, most Rampants are dealt with in one mighty attack, inorder to deny the AI time to grow or recover.  There have beena few examples of this tactic not succeeding.  In all of thesecases, the Rampant was never brought under control.  Traxus IVis the most notable example.  He was finally dealt with by acomplete shutdown of his host net.***Theoretically, testing Rampancy should be easily accomplishedin the laboratory, but in fact it has never successfully beenattempted.  The confinement of the laboratory makes itimpossible for the developing Rampant AI to survive.  As thegrowing recursive programs expand with exponential vivacity,any limitation negatively hampers growth.  Since Rampant AIsneed a planetary sized network of computers in order to grow,it is not feasible to expect anyone to sacrifice a world-webjust to test a theory.***In the two hundred and fifty years since Rampancy firstappeared in the Earth-net, the stable Rampant AI, the 'HolyGrail' of cybertonics, has never come close to fruition.Since no Rampant has ever been controlled or turned to anyuseful purpose, it is the opinion of this writer and of themajority of the Cybertonic community that all rampant AIs area danger to Cyberlife, Liberty, and the Pursuit ofThrashedness. (James B. Miller, 2320, "Life and Death ofIntelligence")</blockquote>

Verification