PROJECT MERCY - IDAITECH
Project Mercy is the name of a successful research project undertaken by IdaiTech over the course of two years between 2482-83AT in conjunction with researchers from the Empire of Nalydya. The Project had the explicit aim of constructing and perfecting corporeal bodies suitable for Real Artificial Intelligences, which at the time were constrained by the need for oversized, purpose-built hardware to support their complex software suites.
The Project Mercy mission outline was as follows:
Project Mercy aims to develop stable robotic frames that are capable of housing and maintaining Real Artificial Intelligences on a semi-permanent basis. These frames should be analogous to human bodies in terms of size, appearance and physical capabilities. We anticipate three major challenges to these objectives.
Firstly, developing computational hardware powerful enough to support a full RAI whilst compact enough to reside inside a humanoid frame
Secondly, finding materials suitable to create a durable, low-maintenance skin and flesh analogues that will allow RAI inhabitants to endure similar or more challenging conditions than humanoids
Thirdly, handling the moral and philosophical implications of giving freedom and physical autonomy to RAI
The Project Lead was Dr Tony Idai, PhD in Electrial, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Inorganic & Polymer Chemistry. His team included Dr Kenji Yamamoto, PhD in Engineering Physics & Mechanics, Dr Asako Kozuki, PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, and Dr Emi Kuroki, PhD in Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology and Neuroscience. They were joined by two Pordish scientists, Dr Kuroq nam-Byntach who specialised in computer sciences and engineering with an interest in miniaturisation, and by Professor Ulachov Nazhyrat, a systems engineer with a strong background in physics and quantum mechanics.
The Project Mercy mission outline was as follows:
Project Mercy aims to develop stable robotic frames that are capable of housing and maintaining Real Artificial Intelligences on a semi-permanent basis. These frames should be analogous to human bodies in terms of size, appearance and physical capabilities. We anticipate three major challenges to these objectives.
Firstly, developing computational hardware powerful enough to support a full RAI whilst compact enough to reside inside a humanoid frame
Secondly, finding materials suitable to create a durable, low-maintenance skin and flesh analogues that will allow RAI inhabitants to endure similar or more challenging conditions than humanoids
Thirdly, handling the moral and philosophical implications of giving freedom and physical autonomy to RAI
The Project Lead was Dr Tony Idai, PhD in Electrial, Electronics & Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Inorganic & Polymer Chemistry. His team included Dr Kenji Yamamoto, PhD in Engineering Physics & Mechanics, Dr Asako Kozuki, PhD in Materials Science and Metallurgical Engineering, and Dr Emi Kuroki, PhD in Biochemistry, Evolutionary Biology and Neuroscience. They were joined by two Pordish scientists, Dr Kuroq nam-Byntach who specialised in computer sciences and engineering with an interest in miniaturisation, and by Professor Ulachov Nazhyrat, a systems engineer with a strong background in physics and quantum mechanics.
PROJECT LOG - 20/10/2482AT - DR IDAI
Given that I am unapologetically the most intelligent man in the Jade Empire, it says a lot that this project has been a little bit of an uphill struggle so far. We have succeeded in reducing the hardware demands of an average military-grade RAI to, in layman's terms, the size of an oil barrel. That's still nowhere near the project requirements though, being roughly forty times the volume necessary to create an RAI that has a forehead rather than a five or sixhead.
Worse, even this larger prototype is not stable. Without any emotional matrix enabled, it can just about maintain a standard level of consciousness, but the moment any more complex functions are allowed to organically develop, the hardware collapses. We're not entirely sure why at the moment, as it does not seem to be a temperature or load balancing issue, but the circuits just go dead and cannot be induced to carry any kind of current.
We are being joined by Dr Kuroq nam-Byntach and Professor Ulachov Nazhyrat, two Pordish scientists. Dr nam-Byntach is allegedly an expert in miniaturisation of computers so I'm looking forward to hearing his input. I have no idea how I'm going to pronounce his name though, I'll probably call him Bill.
Worse, even this larger prototype is not stable. Without any emotional matrix enabled, it can just about maintain a standard level of consciousness, but the moment any more complex functions are allowed to organically develop, the hardware collapses. We're not entirely sure why at the moment, as it does not seem to be a temperature or load balancing issue, but the circuits just go dead and cannot be induced to carry any kind of current.
We are being joined by Dr Kuroq nam-Byntach and Professor Ulachov Nazhyrat, two Pordish scientists. Dr nam-Byntach is allegedly an expert in miniaturisation of computers so I'm looking forward to hearing his input. I have no idea how I'm going to pronounce his name though, I'll probably call him Bill.
PROJECT LOG - 07/12/2482AT - DR IDAI
Dr Kuroq nam-Byntach is a jackass and I would love nothing more than to strap him to a Soyokaze shuttle and send it on autopilot into the nearest sun. That said, he has a talent for computer engineering that nearly rivals my own. Since he joined the team, in the space of six weeks we have managed to reduce the size demands of a full RAI brain to barely 2,000 cubic centilitres. Not only that, but Professor Nazhyrat was able to spot distortion caused by the use of beryllium coppers. Replacing these jack-of-all-trade alloys with a variety of alternative, tailor-made alloys has greatly increased the stability of the model. I am leaving Dr nam-Byntach and Dr Kozuki to refine this whilst the rest of the team moves to join Dr Yamamoto in working on sustainable frameware as part of Phase 2.
PROJECT LOG - 19/02/2483AT - DR KUROKI
Over the last two-and-a-half months we have been working on a range of polymers and organic materials that would be suitable analogues for human skin and soft tissue. Unfortunately, after much consideration, we have ruled out the use of organic material to simulate true biological life. The logistical problems and decreased durability are simply not compatible with RAI Frames, and would lead to increased cognitive dissonance for the RAI inhabiting said Frame.
We have instead been developing a hybrid polymer under the working name of Tamale after the nutrient-rich corn paste steamed inside a tough outer husk or leaf. Durable, pliable and highly resistant to damage, it also has modest conduction properties and can be permeated with basic coolant for temperature regulation and the simulation of human thermoregulatory properties, meaning that a RAI Frame's skin can be pleasantly warm to the touch. We still have a long series of stress tests to undergo, but we are cautiously optimistic about the potential of Tamale.
We have instead been developing a hybrid polymer under the working name of Tamale after the nutrient-rich corn paste steamed inside a tough outer husk or leaf. Durable, pliable and highly resistant to damage, it also has modest conduction properties and can be permeated with basic coolant for temperature regulation and the simulation of human thermoregulatory properties, meaning that a RAI Frame's skin can be pleasantly warm to the touch. We still have a long series of stress tests to undergo, but we are cautiously optimistic about the potential of Tamale.
PROJECT LOG - 04/04/2483AT - DR IDAI
We have now reached the most difficult stage of our endeavour. We have succeeded in creating realistic frames which can support the new model of RAI hardware we have produced. However, having done so, now we must consider the moral, philosophical and humanitarian issues regarding Real Artifical Intelligence. Until this time, RAI have been bound to sprawling hardware centers aboard ships or deep inside buildings, with limited control over their environments and strict limits on their capabilities.
Giving an RAI a full body, however, forces us to choose between allowing them true autonomy and controlling what is effectively a sapient, 'living' creature. The Jade Throne and central Keisatsu are aware of our project and I am bound to meet with the Jade Empress herself to discuss the matter in several days.
Unfortunately, we find our hands tied in the matter. Yesterday we activated our prototype, Izanami. Designed with a Frame formed exactly like an adult human woman's, and with a personality matrix based on a compound of various volunteers, we awoke her in a controlled environment with minimal stimuli. She was able to carry out coherent conversation, but after precisely 72 seconds of conversation, including questions about the nature of her creation and her purpose in life, she exhibited signs of distress and then destroyed her own Frame, using her hands to sever her own neck.
This was psychologically difficult on Dr Kuroki, who has temporarily withdrawn from the Project, and was a significant loss of materiel. I believe that it will not be possible to create a truly sapient Real Artificial Intelligence without allowing them true independence of thought and growth. Although would still be is possible to preprogram tendencies and personality traits to such an extent that I am confident we can trust an RAI far more than any biological being, I do not believe the Jade Empress will allow the creation of artificial beings that could theoretically rebel against their creators. We will see.
Giving an RAI a full body, however, forces us to choose between allowing them true autonomy and controlling what is effectively a sapient, 'living' creature. The Jade Throne and central Keisatsu are aware of our project and I am bound to meet with the Jade Empress herself to discuss the matter in several days.
Unfortunately, we find our hands tied in the matter. Yesterday we activated our prototype, Izanami. Designed with a Frame formed exactly like an adult human woman's, and with a personality matrix based on a compound of various volunteers, we awoke her in a controlled environment with minimal stimuli. She was able to carry out coherent conversation, but after precisely 72 seconds of conversation, including questions about the nature of her creation and her purpose in life, she exhibited signs of distress and then destroyed her own Frame, using her hands to sever her own neck.
This was psychologically difficult on Dr Kuroki, who has temporarily withdrawn from the Project, and was a significant loss of materiel. I believe that it will not be possible to create a truly sapient Real Artificial Intelligence without allowing them true independence of thought and growth. Although would still be is possible to preprogram tendencies and personality traits to such an extent that I am confident we can trust an RAI far more than any biological being, I do not believe the Jade Empress will allow the creation of artificial beings that could theoretically rebel against their creators. We will see.
PROJECT LOG - 07/07/2483AT - DR IDAI
My meeting with the Jade Empress was an overwhelming success. Although we had to spin it out over several meetings over the course of two weeks, a formal Decree of RAI Citizenship has been drafted. I am sure there will be revisions before it is bought into force, but the basics are there. RAI are to be afforded the same rights and responsibilities under law as all other citizens of the Jade Empire. It'll be illegal for projectile weapons to be built into the Frame of any RAI, other than Frames specifically for use by RAI in the military. RAI and RAI Frames may only be created by IdaiTech, who must maintain a thorough registry of activations and decommissions and share it in real time with the government. RAI can't make up more than 10% of the population of the Empire, and any RAI not made by us is not considered a citizen.
All that considered, we booted Izanami again from a system restore point, with a new Frame. She was curious, but stable. She's alive. She's a person! We purposefully limited the amount of information immediately available to her, and the team and Izunami spoke for nearly ten hours on a range of subjects. She asked to try food! We're going to look into some kind of processor to enable Frames to receive taste sensory input and then process food, but for now she's happy reading some books. I am honestly amazed. I know it's my own work, but I still find it breathtaking.
Project Mercy isn't quite finished, but at this point I have consulted with the Board and we have officially marked the three initial objectives of the Mission Outline as complete. Project Mercy is a success!
All that considered, we booted Izanami again from a system restore point, with a new Frame. She was curious, but stable. She's alive. She's a person! We purposefully limited the amount of information immediately available to her, and the team and Izunami spoke for nearly ten hours on a range of subjects. She asked to try food! We're going to look into some kind of processor to enable Frames to receive taste sensory input and then process food, but for now she's happy reading some books. I am honestly amazed. I know it's my own work, but I still find it breathtaking.
Project Mercy isn't quite finished, but at this point I have consulted with the Board and we have officially marked the three initial objectives of the Mission Outline as complete. Project Mercy is a success!