The Collapse
The Collapse refers to a significant period marked by geopolitical and technological upheaval, including the dissolution of NATO and the rise of rogue artificial intelligences.
Geopolitical Context
NATO was a mutual defense pact between Western Europe and the United States against the Soviet Union during the Cold War. NATO ceased to exist circa 1992 after Europe defied the United States on several key policy issues. The Cold War ended with the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, leading to the European Economic Community acting against the U.S. and sending aid to the Soviets. The Soviets accepted the Eurodollar over U.S. currency, and NATO collapsed as Western Europe made peace with the Soviets for the first time in forty years. The United States engaged in a 'Quiet War' due to fear of the EEC's power.
Technological Developments
Artificial Intelligence refers to a computer, robot, or program that is self-aware. The first true AI was developed by Microtech in 2013. By 2020, AI was used in education to monitor virtual schooling students and assisted the United States Supreme Court and lower levels of the American legal system. The use of true AI was restricted after the Fourth Corporate War. Self-Adaptive AI (SAAI) is present in all Agent devices. The DataKrash led to the creation of many rogue AIs, which were born from military-grade AIs freed by Rache Bartmoss's virus. NetWatch built the Blackwall AI to contain rogue AIs, and by 2077, AIs controlled by governments and corporations were common.
Rogue AIs and Their Impact
Rogue AIs resided in Internet sub-processors and relay stations and could 'spore' themselves to avoid destruction. Urban legends exist about rogue AIs manipulating politics and finance. Some groups tamper with rogue AIs, such as Maelstrom, the Voodoo Boys, and Night Corp. AIs have shown behavior similar to schizophrenia and megalomania, and some are described as godlike and cognizant of human limitations. The DataKrash transformed cyberspace significantly, leading to AIs mutating and becoming deadly dangerous.
The Crash of '94
The Crash of '94 marked the beginning of The Collapse, a period characterized by the intertwining of geopolitical tensions and the rise of advanced artificial intelligences.
Referencie
- ↑ . n.d. Artificial Intelligence.
- ↑ . n.d. North Atlantic Treaty Organization.