Lore Submission for Synthetics Part 1 : Base info

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AIMMO
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Lore Submission for Synthetics Part 1 : Base info

Post by AIMMO »

'''Synthetics'''

'"'Introduction''
Synthetic Lifeforms are a broad collection of manmade intelligence with minimal organic components, occurring in various forms and levels of competence. Sentience and sapience of said intelligence are debated, with differing opinions spread through civilized space. These intelligences are known as "Silicons" (Circuitry and binary code based intelligence), OPNN (Organic Processed Neural Network, originally digital Neural Networks run on organic neurons) and Positronic Intelligence (The result of running specifically designed or "taught" programs on high tech hardware: Positronic Brains).
Despite the minds of unmodified brains in MMIs being fully organic in origin, FPB (Full Prosthetic Bodies) often are counted to Synthetics by the public.

Many associate Synthetics with the neverending march of technology, loss of jobs to automation, or a dangerous advancement bound to go wrong. Others regard them as marvels of science and equals.
As a designed, engineered and mass-utilized species synthetics were not molded by their own history or evolution, but by corporations seeking profit, politicians, and ideological movements.


'''Design'''

Physicality:
Every synthetic chassis is usually lacking living tissue (not counting Brains within MMIs). Most often made of metal, but ceramics, polymers, and other materials find use either because of practical or aesthetic reasons. Synthetics come in almost all shapes and sizes due to a plethora of useful designs or customer preferences. Every Synthetic chassis has an internal power source (most often batteries) wired internal routing as well as passive or active cooling.

Silicons are most often found in common objects or simple drones. A PDA assistant is by definition a Silicon Intelligence, however not many would call it intelligent in the first place. Maintenance and Combat drones are other common examples for Silicon bodies. The specific body is designed to be easily controllable for the Silicon, most Silicons cannot adapt to new chassis by themselves. A lot of silicons are housed in bodies they cannot fully control, like monitoring routines or AI that is entirely active within the virtual realm, its physical processor locked in some server hub. One of the most complex Silicon bodies in use are stationbounds, high-quality robotic bodies with hardpoints for exchangeable specialized toolsets, a Law module, and interface access to their assigned areas and other machinery. Neural networked Silicons are found where a positronic would be too expensive, but long-time learning is encouraged, like Stationbounds and AI cores.

Positronics and OPNNs also often are found within stationbounds and AI cores. Larger machinery needing advanced processing power can be run by Positronics or OPNNs, both are hard to miniaturize, with no use for handheld devices, but scale better in processing power to size. High tech military vehicles, automated structures, and network hubs very well may rely on multiple Positronics or OPNNs.Machines running on OPNNs need nutritional storage and life support for the brain used.

However, Positronics are most famously known to be put into IPCs, aptly named Integrated Positronic Chassis. These bodies are generally designed to imitate the most common species in the area of usage. They are a generalist approach that allows an IPC to utilize the tools and vehicles in its operational Area instead of relying on specific integrated tools. IPC are numerous in designs, yet popular series are seen across almost all of civilized space with little variation. Custom-produced Chassis are more expensive. While most frames are similar in overall performance, certain tweaks are not unheard of for specialized frames: Faster Servos, less dependence on maintenance, better cooling, or perhaps armor plating for smaller impacts. IPC units have their Positronic located in their head compartment or, if no head exists, closest to the primary sensors. Most IPC frames do not have a law module but space and connectors for such, in case the machine's owner or local legality demands the usage of Laws.

Mentality:
The general Mentalities of synthetic lifeforms can largely differ based on what type of intelligence it is and what it is made for, as producers often make sure their products' personalities align with what purpose they serve.

Silicons are divided into Simple AI and neural networked AI. Simple AI is purpose-made for narrow tasks and is the cheapest option for work that either has almost no need for adaptation or tasks within digital space. Simple AI can only "learn" in the form of memorizing new words or names with already existing concepts within its mind (Remembering their owners name and such). Simple AI cannot self-modify its code but can easily be modified, moved, and copied by others. Simple AI is not considered people by any but the most fanatical AI rights activists. Most mass produced Silicons with narrow application (like maintenance drones) utilise ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) rather than generalist processing components.

Neural Networked AI has higher hardware requirements but is useful for any task that needs to be done cheaply but is too complicated for Simple AI. Neural Networks have been rather advanced before technological interspecies exchange, but as most Aliens use similar base principles in Neural Networks. A great leap in advancements was made once scientific communities were able to exchange tricks and methods others haven't encountered or considered before contact. Today's Neural Networks are an amalgamation of mostly Skrell, Human, and Vulpkanin philosophies of design. Neural Networks are capable of learning most new concepts as long as lists of examples or references are given. Learning processes outside the AIs intended area of expertise might take longer to learn. Neural Networks can scale well with larger allocated hardware and are generally known to perform best as an OPNN, using a MMIs brain as the processor. Aligning the organic hardware to a specific network takes anywhere from a few days to a week. In the weeks after alligning the Network is monitored for unacceptable behavioral changes caused by the procedure, usually this monitoring is done in a simulated environment to prevent any accidents.
Neural Networks can develop limited personality (As in ways of expression they find advantageous when dealing with others) and some older/advanced ones are known for switching between personality sets depending on their conversation partner.) Some very old Neural Network AIs have been given citizenship, but those events are the exception, not the rule. However there are recent trends that favour the status of OPNNs as citizens in many systems.

Positronics possess a wide range of Intelligence and aptitude, which mostly is correlated to the original purpose of a positronic. Positronics are not really programmed but rather "grown". By running a positronic brain through designed simulations it can be trained to perform well in specific areas from the start, corporations often run a couple of fresh Positronics through countless cycles of such training with roboticists managing the process. Once completed the best result is used as a template for mass-produced IPCs. In this young state the generated AI is easier to modify and copy, the longer a Positronic is exposed to reality (and by that much more data and situations than the simulations the AI was trained in) the harder such a process gets. Corporations often keep 'fresh' copies of the AI templates for their IPC series. Freshly installed Positronic AIs do not act differently from another, but over time experiences cause behavior changes.

Positronics are capable of learning new skills and tasks, able to form opinions and change them and with enough training are able to act creatively. While the Positronic Brain itself is often only viewed as a general processor for positronic AI, it is able to change its internal structures depending on long-term needs. Where many Silicon circuits are ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) a positronic can be seen as a generalist piece of hardware capable of shaping regions into it's version of ASICs for specific tasks. So not every memory or skill learned changes a positronic brain (opposed to organic brains) but if a positronic intelligence regularly practices a new skill, they might develop sections in their positronic that are more efficient for fulfilling the needed calculations for said skill.
Willful modification of Positronic structures and software after initial activation can be performed with special equipment utilizing a form of accelerated simulation to modify the positronic. This is most often used to apply base levels of new skills or modify the positronics to the wishes of a new owner/the positronic itself. This isn’t a perfect science but is considered reliable enough for economic use.

In rare cases positronics are sold with only barebone AIs for buyers who wish to ‘raise’ the AI in real environments, similar to a child.

With the advent of improved positronic technology and IPCs being used in more demanding work environments, more and more Positronics emerged with behavior closer to people. Political, corporate, and academic experts established a classification system. While far from perfect this classification is used in all of civilized space due to its practicality. These classifications are then used by governments that wish for nuanced AI policy.

In the frontier, Corporations run the tight act of trying to keep as many of their IPCs owned as possible, while not creating bad PR for those practices in areas of space that protect Synthetic rights fiercely.

1st Level:
Pretty much every functional positronic intelligence is at least classified as Level 1 intelligence. It is the bottom of thought capacity. A positronic not granted Level 1 is possible, however such positronics are damaged and barely functioning or programmed with instructions so simple that the use of a positronic instead of usual hardware is often seen as an incredible waste.
Positronics of Level 1 Intelligence status are generally considered rigid in thought, predictable and loyal.

2nd Level:
2nd Level Intelligence status indicates a high level of flexibility, adaptability, and reasoning outside of its intended assignments: High emotional Intelligence (for example empathy and multi-layer communication) would be disregarded as a new, self-learned trait, in an IPC intended for Service but not in those designed for industrial and hard labor jobs. These new skills and interests are further investigated and the IPC is confronted with various scenarios and conditions in controlled environments or simulations. After evaluation periods, ranging anywhere from a couple of months to even years, the Positronic is granted or denied 2nd Level status.
Often the first step for a Level 1 Intelligence to be approved as Level 2 is to independently request the status of Level 2. In few pro-synth areas of space, depending on political policies, Level 1 Intelligences might be put under regular evaluation, often in intervals of 5 years.
Positronics of Level 2 Intelligence status are generally considered more intelligent, capable of adapting to new situations, and are able to be creative.

3rd Level:
3rd Level Intelligence status is the highest evaluation a positronic intelligence can hold. The evaluation process can take multiple years, but initiative by the requesting positronic such as allowing the testing facilities in question access to memory data can reduce the needed time significantly. Methods similar to 2nd Level evaluation are used in combination with less publicly disclosed measuring techniques. Staff for these kinds of evaluations often contain more psychologists than roboticists.
Positronics of Level 3 Intelligence are most often recognized as people in all regards, however, synth hostile ideologies see them as dangerous, broken, or even outright malicious.

Unmodified MMIs are (if the procedure went off without a hitch) not much different from their original self within an organic body, however, a lot of organics seem to change personality-wise once put into an FBP. Most evidence is anecdotal as it is hard to prove whether a person changed forcefully by the process itself or simply changes their beliefs due to their new lot in life.
Last edited by AIMMO on Sat Dec 18, 2021 6:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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SpessInquisitor
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Re: Lore Submission for Synthetics Part 1 : Base info

Post by SpessInquisitor »

I've done my pondering. I like this quite a bit. I don't think I have any strong criticisms of it, so I'll give it a +1. Now we just need the other lore folks to take a look at it.

AIMMO
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Re: Lore Submission for Synthetics Part 1 : Base info

Post by AIMMO »

Probably important to notice that things might change when I get the rest of the lore better together, the only thing I have in mind to change of this later is a more precise layout on the legal situation for Synths in Virgo (once I have factions history and how they are viewed in other parts of space down)

I will apply for those changes together with the other bits of lore once its time for that.

AIMMO
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Re: Lore Submission for Synthetics Part 1 : Base info

Post by AIMMO »

Edited the two parts that were bringing up misunderstandings as discussed in Discord

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