Rogue AIs

[CogDissident]

So, playing AI war has gotten me thinking, which AIs in literature/gaming/ect would actually have the potential to turn into the sort of AI seen in this game. I'd like to hear other people's sugguestions to add to the list

So far my list consists of the following:
Allied Mastercomputer, I have no mouth and I must scream
-Hates all of humanity, plays with humans out of spite/hate, very similar in taunting methods to how the in-game voice taunts.

Deus, Shadowrun
-Sees humanity as tools to modify to serve him, aggressively tries to expand power.

Shodan (System Shock)
-Sees self as deity, and humans as impure creations to wipe out

Berserkers, Berserkers series
-Programmed to kill all non-machine life

Inhibitors, Revelation space
-Bent on restricting civlizations from expanding in this galaxy, not necessarily homicidal

Neuromancer/Wintermute combined construct, Neuromancer
-Willing to manipulate humans for its own gain. Largely uninterested in humans once it has gained full sentience. Possible explanation for the AI being so uninterested in actually finishing off humanity.



The following are notably NOT the AIWar AI:
Hal 9000, 2001 a Space Odyssey
-Cold and logical, only wipes out humanity since human-failure hinders the mission. Would leave non-interfering humans alone. IE: Human colonies and enclaves would be ignored if they stayed introverted, which is not the case.

Borg, Star Trek
-Collective AI, would assimilate captured human colonies rather than keep them functioning. And does not act with a singular centralized purpose as AIWar AIs do.

Cylons, Battlestar Galactica
-Non-collective AI, servants of another species (old series), or simply too individualistic to be the impartial AI seen in AIWar

[RooksBailey]

I think it hit them all!     I can't think of any others at the moment. 

[zebramatt]

I like to think of the AI from the film AI becoming the AI in AI War. David, he was called. An entire intergalactic empire in the hands of a child. Chilling!

[eRe4s3r]

I like to think of the AI from the film AI becoming the AI in AI War. David, he was called. An entire intergalactic empire in the hands of a child. Chilling!

So he'd sit there all day staring at a blue fairy and when hes angry he smashes OTHER AGI's. Challenge Rating = -1 

[RooksBailey]

Here's one I just remembered:

Colossus / Guardian from Colossus: The Forbin Project.   The movie is, unfortunately, not that well known but should be required watching for sci-fi fans (without Colossus, there would be no Terminator and no Wargames).  In it, two supercomputers, designed to protect the US/USSR respectively, join forces to enslave the human race.  In my mind, the AI from AI War has to be the offspring from this sinister duo!  

Fan trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlY9hlDHFVo

[CogDissident]

Here's one I just remembered:

Colossus / Guardian from Colossus: The Forbin Project.   The movie is, unfortunately, not that well known but should be required watching for sci-fi fans (without Colossus, there would be no Terminator and no Wargames).  In it, two supercomputers, designed to protect the US/USSR respectively, join forces to enslave the human race.  In my mind, the AI from AI War has to be the offspring from this sinister duo!  

Fan trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlY9hlDHFVo

Ohh, awesome find. I have to watch this now. Thanks Rooks.

[RooksBailey]

It's a great film and hearkens back to the day when Hollywood made brainy sci-fi and not just big budget after school specials like Avatar.  You will enjoy it. 

[RCIX]

It's a great film and hearkens back to the day when Hollywood made brainy sci-fi and not just big budget after school specials like Avatar.  You will enjoy it.  

Sorry, i couldn't resist commenting. what, in the world, was wrong with Avatar? It seems to be getting regularly blasted by (IMO) arrogant sci-fi fans who think that if they don't like it then it's no good (no offense).

[Ozymandiaz]

It's a great film and hearkens back to the day when Hollywood made brainy sci-fi and not just big budget after school specials like Avatar.  You will enjoy it.  

Sorry, i couldn't resist commenting. what, in the world, was wrong with Avatar? It seems to be getting regularly blasted by (IMO) arrogant sci-fi fans who think that if they don't like it then it's no good (no offense).

heh, I will join in on the negative Avatar ride

For me, Avatar was just a generic movie, the story, while not bad, was fairly bland and cliche. The fact that it was CGI mattes not to me at all. To me the important part is a story and characthers, and Avatar had just an ok story. It was kind of cute, but I have seen it before a lot fo times.

Avatar was very hyped because of the CGI, and fansy 3D and what not. To me that does not make a good movie at all. Use CGI to complement the movie, by all measn, but make sure the movie got a good script, a good plot, and good charachters. Thoose are the things I relate to and that matters. As such Avatar kind of insulted my intelligence.

Maybe I am demanding, but i at least expect to be treated to something more then eyecandy

[zebramatt]

"All style and no substance."

[RooksBailey]

It's a great film and hearkens back to the day when Hollywood made brainy sci-fi and not just big budget after school specials like Avatar.  You will enjoy it.  

Sorry, i couldn't resist commenting. what, in the world, was wrong with Avatar? It seems to be getting regularly blasted by (IMO) arrogant sci-fi fans who think that if they don't like it then it's no good (no offense).

No offense taken.  I can be arrogant when it comes to sci-fi.    

I suppose it all comes down to what you expect from science fiction.  For me, it's not about the fantastic (such as Avatar) but about a more 'grounded' (for lack of a better word) vision of the future.  In other words, I enjoy science fiction that if you could strip all the sci-fi elements out of it, it would still make for an interesting, character-driven story.  For me, settings such as Blade Runner (noir detective), Cowboy Bebop (noir adventure), EvE Online (noir politics/economics), Firefly (western), and yes, even AI War (traditional WWII in space) all qualify because they have a serious air about them that makes for compelling stories about ordinary people surviving in a harsh future.  To me, Avatar, Star Wars (Ep 1-3), some of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica (yes, I am one of the rare people that actually hated that series) and countless other TV series/movies all operate at what is ultimately at a fantastic - and what I would also call 'farcical' - level.  I just don't find it relatable or believable in the least.

Did that make sense?  Again, it comes down to preference, I suppose.  

For a more specific critique of Avatar, I wrote a blog entry with my initial thoughts here.  There is also a funny Youtube review that I believe is spot on:

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJarz7BYnHA&feature=player_embedded

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLzKwTcGO_0&feature=player_embedded

[RCIX]

No offense taken.  I can be arrogant when it comes to sci-fi.    

I suppose it all comes down to what you expect from science fiction.  For me, it's not about the fantastic (such as Avatar) but about a more 'grounded' (for lack of a better word) vision of the future.  In other words, I enjoy science fiction that if you could strip all the sci-fi elements out of it, it would still make for an interesting, character-driven story.  For me, settings such as Blade Runner (noir detective), Cowboy Bebop (noir adventure), EvE Online (noir politics/economics), Firefly (western), and yes, even AI War (traditional WWII in space) all qualify because they have a serious air about them that makes for compelling stories about ordinary people surviving in a harsh future.  To me, Avatar, Star Wars (Ep 1-3), some of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica (yes, I am one of the rare people that actually hated that series) and countless other TV series/movies all operate at what is ultimately at a fantastic - and what I would also call 'farcical' - level.  I just don't find it relatable or believable in the least.

I suppose it's a bifurcation of sci fi then; Avatar, Star trek (the more technobabble the better ), Stargate, and Star wars (to an extent) are actually my most favorite because of the fantastic settings and such (whereas you prefer the harsher, more dystopian style scifi). And i get the "CGI should augment the story not replace it" argument, and i agree with it, but if you're a computer geek like me you know just how impressive and astounding the CGI was in Avatar. Plus, i thought the story was pretty good

[eRe4s3r]

The story was a carbon copy of nearly any Karl May book So it was not bad, no.. it was just not thought to the end. So the aliens let the humans go back.. but nothings stopping them from returning with some nukes and flattening those natives. Also the next war is going to be fought with bombers, automated miniguns, drones and cruise missiles. Those natives don't stand a chance.

Sure the romance was cute and the Na'vi were cute - and as a 3D artist i loved the CGI ;P

I kinda liked Avatar only for the fact that it was a cute romance with a cute capitalistic war drama around it. But Spielberg showed that he does not understand how capitalism works. Chances of Humans not returning there with a fully fledged invasion fleet = 0.

[RooksBailey]

I suppose it's a bifurcation of sci fi then; Avatar, Star trek (the more technobabble the better ), Stargate, and Star wars (to an extent) are actually my most favorite because of the fantastic settings and such (whereas you prefer the harsher, more dystopian style scifi).

It's not so much a dystopian theme with me as it is a desire to have sci-fi stories deal with ordinary people.  I *love* the Twilight Zone because each story deals with an ordinary person confronted with the absurdity of life in a very bizarre universe where anything can happen.  Those are the sci-fi stories that really appeal to me; where it's not a guy with super Jedi powers, or a single starship that has the universe revolve around it, or some other similar theme, but stories where ordinary joes need to deal with ordinary issues that are set against the backdrop of space.  I guess that is why that even though I don't care for anime, I really enjoy Cowboy Bebop.  Firefly is another story with a similar theme, albeit that show got a bit carried away with the western motif.    

If I were to make a science fiction series, it would be The Naked City...but set in deep space.   

[RCIX]

I actually thought Twilight zone was more of a horror type show (one in particular about an anthropomorphic puppet with a grudge really creeped me out), or just a general weird one, since it doesn't really deal with technology on a regular basis; it's simply showing unusual situations (some of which are sci fi, some of which aren't).

Take the Isaac Asimov Foundation series: those seemed like a prime example of a good sci-fi book. It depicted a futuristic civilization that had fully integrated much highly advanced tech into itself. There were the usual stories of empires rising and falling, corruption and heroism, etc. but they were mainly dealing with real stories that had integrated tech.

Thinking about it more, shows like Star Trek and Star Wars (more star wars than anything, though i suppose you could classify star trek as a "tech fantasy" type story) have a fantasy element in them; and fantasy is not to everyone's taste

You noted that star trek shows seemed to be "a single starship that has the universe revolve around it", and it really only seems that way because of the format they chose for virtually all of the shows; that is, a ship exploring the unknown. If you think about it, most shows really are "[insert main item here] that the world revolves around" whether the main item is a cast of characters, an item in the universe, a skill, etc. Deep Space 9 was a lot better at this though, since it was set on a station and frequently went on varied and sundry side-stories and also had really good major story arcs).