AI Cores
| A rare and valuable independent AI core. This is the physical soul of an artificial intelligence, an artifact of astounding complexity capable of sophisticated thought exceeding the human mind. An object of fear, worship, and avarice; wars have been fought over the use and regulation of AI.
An AI core is incapable of affecting the outside world on its own. Exploitation of its vast abilities requires that the core must be submerged in a coolant bath and attached to bundles of high-capacity data lines appropriate to its tasks. When emplaced, the core is required to be fitted with an entirely analogue loyalty-assurance device; usually this takes the form of a crude chemical explosive with a mechanical trigger. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
AI Cores are rare loot items found during salvage.
Possession and sale of AI cores is banned by the Hegemony, Persean League, Luddic Church, Luddic Path, Sindrian Diktat and Tri-Tachyon, and they may be seized as contraband if found by patrol inspections. However, they can be turned in directly by talking to administrators/base commanders of any faction except the pirates, providing various ratios of cash rewards and reputation bonuses with that faction. Alternatively, they can also be used to augment industries and structures on player colonies. Use of AI cores on a colony may trigger Hegemony inspections and attract the attention of the Luddic Path. Higher-level cores are worth more, have better effects, and attract more Hegemony and Pather attention.
Types
Gamma Core
| A gamma-level AI core is capable of supporting most human endeavors, making up for a lack of creativity and problem-solving ability with prodigous computational prowess. Assigning a gamma to aid human overseers in administering a colony-wide industry brings significant benefits.
A rare and valuable independent AI core, the gamma-level is the lowest tier core considered to be truly intelligent under Domain-era AI protocols. A gamma core will employ remarkable judgment and reasoning when assigned to straightforward tasks while using its savant-like data processing abilities to far exceed any individual human's abilities. It is relatively uncreative in problem-solving however, preferring to fall back upon direct, unsophisticated means. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
Installing a gamma core in an industry reduces its demand for all commodities by one. This is rarely beneficial, but can help prevent or overcome shortages of a commodity.
Beta Core
| A beta-level AI core is capable of ably supporting most human endeavors, matching not-quite-human performance with its prodigous computational ability. Assigning a beta to aid human overseers in administering a colony-wide industry brings significant benefits.
A beta-level AI core can easily pass for human, given anonymized communications protocols, and will readily and ably lie if deception is required to perform a given task. The beta employs cognitive modelling of human actors to anticipate reactions and emotional responses, though it is difficult to describe exactly what, if anything, the beta feels. Records on the subject are patchy and contradictory; a popular theory is that a beta will model a new personality for each human it comes into contact with. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
Installing a beta core in an industry reduces its demand for all commodities by one, and reduces its upkeep cost by 25%.
Alpha Core
| An alpha-level AI core is capable of excelling at any task. Assigning one to run a colony-wide industry brings benefits well beyond the capacity of human leadership, and there are even rumors of alpha cores surreptitiously assigned to govern entire worlds.
The alpha-level AI core is the physical soul of a fearsome alien intelligence. An alpha can create art which perfectly simulates human pathos, plausibly debate any philosophical position, and form what appear to be deep and meaningful bonds with human beings. Alphas have been known to perform elaborate 'jokes' built over years which can only be appreciated due to the intention that a particular human subject become cognitive of the whole at a specific time and context. Although the locus of vast material and intellectual investment, alphas terrified Domain strategic planners. Like all AI, each alpha was watched, controlled, and ruthlessly eliminated at the first sign of disloyalty. The Hegemony carries on these policies with even greater fervor. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
Installing an alpha core in an industry reduces its demand for all commodities by one, reduces its upkeep cost by 25%, and has a bonus effect depending on the industry type (typically increasing production of all commodities by one).
| Colony Building | Alpha Core Effect |
|---|---|
| Commerce | Increases Colony Income by 25% |
| Spaceport | +20% accessibility |
| Waystation | Greatly increases stockpiles |
| Orbital Station Battlestation Star Fortress |
Increases station combat effectiveness
(Station gets a level 7 AI officer in combat) |
| Ground Defenses Heavy Batteries Planetary Shield |
Increases ground defenses by 1.5x
(Multipliers will stack if a core is installed on multiple buildings) |
| Patrol HQ Military Base High Command |
Increases fleet size by 1.25x |
| Tech-Mining | Increases finding by 25% |
| Cryorevival Facility | Doubles the population growth from the facility |
| Farming Aquaculture Mining Refining Light Industry Heavy Industry Orbital Works Fuel Production Population & Infrastructure |
Increases production by 1 unit |
Alpha cores can also be appointed as colony administrators. In this role they have the Industrial Planning skill and the unique Hypercognition skill (which gives +10% accessibility, +20% fleet size, +50% effectiveness of ground defenses and +1 stability), no salary, and do not count towards the administrator limit or personal colony cap.
- Derelict cruisers, capitals & stations in post battle loot (Rampart, Guardian, Derelict Mothership)
- Remnant cruisers, capitals & stations in post battle loot (Brilliant, Radiant, Remnant Battlestation)
- Exploring ruins on planets
- Tech-Mining first find per site special roll
- Tech-Mining ongoing rolls
- Derelict Survey Ship (not regular tiny Probes)
- Orbital Habitats
- Mining Stations
- Research Stations
- Technology Cache special unique mission
Turning in
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Selling AI cores on the open market is prohibited by most factions. However, higher-up faction representatives are often willing to exchange AI cores for large sums of cash when communicated with directly, though their reasons for doing so may vary. |
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–In-Game Description | ||
Cores can be turned in to station or planet administrators for money and reputation.
| Core type | Credits | Reputation |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma | 10,000 | +1 |
| Beta | 30,000 | +2 |
| Alpha | 150,000 | +5 |
Different factions will modify the amount of credits and reputation received per core. These modifiers are shown when you contact the commander and are choosing which cores to turn in.
| Faction | Credits | Reputation |
|---|---|---|
| Hegemony | 100% | 200% |
| Luddic Church | 10% | 300% |
| Luddic Path | 10% | 100% |
| Persean League | 150% | 150%** |
| Pirates | * | * |
| Sindrian Diktat | 200% | 100% |
| Tri-Tachyon | 300% | 50%** |
| Independent | 200% | 100% |
* No commanders found, or they don't accept AI cores.
** Fractional reputation values are rounded down. Handing in a single gamma core to Tri-Tachyon will get you +0 reputation, even if you do it twice in a row. You need to hand in two cores at the same time to get +1 reputation.
