RvB Theory 2: Induced RampancyRampancy has already been established as an element of the RvB storyline. For most general purposes, an AI that enters rampancy has exceeded its effective lifespan. In a time of war, such as what is exhibited in the story, very few operational units would seek to let an AI grow as a person, they would not have any time for it. Therefore, a rampant AI would most likely be sequestered and deleted.

This would obviously be a problem that designers would seek to overcome. Smart AI's are beneficial to the battle effort, and improved longevity would be near the top of designers' priorities, since the AI's are difficult and expensive to bring into being. My last entry established that ...

RvB Theory 2: Induced RampancyRampancy has already been established as an element of the RvB storyline. For most general purposes, an AI that enters rampancy has exceeded its effective lifespan. In a time of war, such as what is exhibited in the story, very few operational units would seek to let an AI grow as a person, they would not have any time for it. Therefore, a rampant AI would most likely be sequestered and deleted.

This would obviously be a problem that designers would seek to overcome. Smart AI's are beneficial to the battle effort, and improved longevity would be near the top of designers' priorities, since the AI's are difficult and expensive to bring into being. My last entry established that you cannot program sentience, and if you allow the AI to answer its own questions, rampancy will occur, sooner or later. Instead of regarding it as a terminal issue, however, perhaps Project Freelancer sought to push through it to the meta stability stage.

Let's look at one key similarity between Cortana and Alpha: they have a defined personality. Cortana's demeanor was established through years of operation, so it is reasonable to think that the Alpha was established thusly. Perhaps he was their shipboard AI on the Mother of Invention. The smashing success of the Master Chief/Cortana pair must have been looked upon with a desire to replicate that success. If every soldier could be equipped as such, the possibilities were endless. But I theorize that Alpha was probably approaching that first stage of rampancy, and that must have been well known to his operators. It wouldn't have taken much to push him over the edge and start to fragment his mind.

And if the Alpha was in rampancy, then the component AI's would have naturally been born in this state, as well. It is important at this point not to think of all rampancy episodes as though they produce the same effects across the board. The stages (melancholia, anger, and jealousy) would remain common, but the actions they push the AI's to would be different based on the AI's personality. I believe most of them would be born in the second stage, anger, and thus would take it out in different ways. Delta would express it in cold, calculated actions, such as suggesting that Wash kill South in cold blood. Theta, being empathy, would use his knowledge of emotions against his enemies in psychological warfare. Sigma would have no end of creative means to express his anger. You get the idea.

So it makes sense that the Director would pair the AI's with the individual agents that he did. So far, they have been paired with agents that had similar personalities: York and Delta were calm, sociable and logical, North and Theta were empathetic and caring, Tex and Omega were powerhouses of rage, and Wyoming and Gamma were smooth operators that you wouldn't want to turn your back on. I assume that this pairing was to teach the AI to control the negative aspects of its personality, instead of letting it control them. Seeing what their personality looked like when operated properly would pay dividends in getting the AI through its rampancy and onto the metastability stage.

On the other hand, a personality mismatch could be disastrous. When Maine and Sigma were paired, you matched cunning with brute strength, a deadly combination. Maine lacked the knowledge to override Sigma's creative nature. Delta was notably uneasy during his time with South, though that probably had to do with her willingness to abandon him, as well. Eta and Iota's cooperation caused a massive mental breakdown. Omega, too, when paired with the denizens of Blood Gulch, was sorely mismatched, and the personalities that they exhibited together were random and uncontrollable. Yet when reunited with Tex, Omega was more focused and seemed to respond to her input. SImply put, a personality mismatch would result in the AI not performing as it was designed or ordered to do.

We will probably never know if the Director's attempt to subdue rampancy would have been successful. The Meta's own attempt to achieve rapid metastability probably rendered the Director's plan impossible. However, the extent of Epsilon's ability to recreate the other AI's is currently unknown, and it is possible we could see the familiar AI faces again, and witness another round. Life has a tendency to try to preserve itself and reach beyond its borders.