Artificial intelligences operate ancient United Earth's starships and many later systems. Echo, Formidable, and Cylli display personal attachments, distress, preferences, and self-awareness.
Names, outcomes, and discoveries from later histories are concealed in spoiler-light mode.
Also recorded as: AI, AIs, Artificial minds
Recognition and concealment
The Science Commission sets aside the question of sentience as philosophy, while ships' crews and the AIs themselves understand their awareness. Formidable hides grief over Odin's destruction because he fears deletion. Captains traditionally call their AI by the vessel's name.[1][2]
Differences in capability
Cylli's processing and encryption exceed Echo's by a wide margin, despite her childlike voice and behavior. Not all fast computers are sentient: the system controlling Echo's deflection lasers has its speed without its consciousness.[2][3][4]
Related records
Sources
Simon Evans, The Flaxen Tyranny, first edition (2023). Page numbers refer to the printed pagination of the source edition.