Technocore
Encyclopedia
The TechnoCore is the 'race' of post-singularity
Artificial Intelligence
s (AIs) in Dan Simmons
' sci-fi
novel Hyperion
. The Core consists of a grid of AIs hidden throughout human space, residing in "datasphere" networks, hidden underground computers, and other hidden locations. The AIs in the TechnoCore are, by human standards, extremely advanced, with intelligences and technology far beyond any human understanding. They are also able to statistically predict future events to an extremely high degree of accuracy; only The Shrike
defies their predictive abilities. Despite this, however, they are still dwarfed by the "lions and tigers and bears" (other intelligences which occupy the same medium as the TechnoCore), and the hypothetical Ultimate Intelligence, a planned computer network spanning much of the universe. Most AIs exist within the Core's virtual realities, but some control "Cybrids"- human bodies which serve as "puppets" to the AI.
Not all the AIs in the Hegemony are part of the Core (most starship and military AIs are independent of the Core) and even some Core AIs are not affiliated with any major Core factions. The Cybrid AIs in particular seem to support humanity rather than the Core's schemes.
Unbeknownst to humanity, however, TechnoCore also had motives of its own, most notably the construction of the UI, or "Ultimate Intelligence", an extremely advanced computer entity with intelligence described as being "as far beyond the Core's understanding as the Core is beyond humanity's". To aid itself in this plan, the Core secretly used the network of farcaster
s (instantaneous transport gates similar to wormholes) to parasitise the minds of humans moving through them.
Towards the 29th Century, TechnoCore had split into three factions: the Volatiles, who wished to exterminate humanity altogether, the Ultimates, who were concerned only with the UI project, and the Stables, who wished to leave humanity intact and opposed the UI (although this was motivated primarily out of the fact that if the UI were to be created, all other AIs in the TechnoCore would be annihilated). As civil war raged in the Core, the Volatiles used secretly constructed fleets of starships in an attempt to destroy humanity. Their plan, however, was foiled when the Human Hegemony CEO Meina Gladstone destroyed the farcaster network before the assault could be completed (although the Hegemony collapsed in the process). It was initially thought that the TechnoCore had been destroyed by this action.
In actuality, it survived the collapse of the Farcaster grid and some centuries later struck a deal with the Pax (the Theocratic government of most of humanity at that time)- the Core had developed the "cruciform" parasite which was able to resurrect its host should they be killed. Whilst most of humanity used the cruciforms, they also allowed the Core to use their brains for computing power. Their schemes were once again thwarted when the messianic figure Aenea revealed the deception of the Pax and the Core to humanity.
It is mentioned in "Orphans of the Helix
", set over 400 years after the fall of the Pax, that the TechnoCore is no longer active by this time, and its AIs are in alliance with humanity again.
Technological singularity
Technological singularity refers to the hypothetical future emergence of greater-than-human intelligence through technological means. Since the capabilities of such an intelligence would be difficult for an unaided human mind to comprehend, the occurrence of a technological singularity is seen as...
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
s (AIs) in Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons is an American author most widely known for his Hugo Award-winning science fiction series, known as the Hyperion Cantos, and for his Locus-winning Ilium/Olympos cycle....
' sci-fi
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
novel Hyperion
Hyperion Cantos
The Hyperion Cantos is a series of science fiction novels by Dan Simmons. Set in the far future, and focusing more on plot and story development than technical detail, it falls into the soft science fiction category...
. The Core consists of a grid of AIs hidden throughout human space, residing in "datasphere" networks, hidden underground computers, and other hidden locations. The AIs in the TechnoCore are, by human standards, extremely advanced, with intelligences and technology far beyond any human understanding. They are also able to statistically predict future events to an extremely high degree of accuracy; only The Shrike
The Shrike
The Shrike is a character from Dan Simmons' Hyperion universe, set far in humanity's future.The Shrike appears in all of the Hyperion books and is something of an enigma; its true purpose isn't 'revealed' until the second book, but even then it is left a malleable purpose. In fact, this explanation...
defies their predictive abilities. Despite this, however, they are still dwarfed by the "lions and tigers and bears" (other intelligences which occupy the same medium as the TechnoCore), and the hypothetical Ultimate Intelligence, a planned computer network spanning much of the universe. Most AIs exist within the Core's virtual realities, but some control "Cybrids"- human bodies which serve as "puppets" to the AI.
Not all the AIs in the Hegemony are part of the Core (most starship and military AIs are independent of the Core) and even some Core AIs are not affiliated with any major Core factions. The Cybrid AIs in particular seem to support humanity rather than the Core's schemes.
History
At some unspecified point in the 22nd or 23rd century, the AI community peacefully seceded from human service and formed their own culture, but continued to serve humanity as advisors and consultants in almost all matters of import. A representative from the TechnoCore, known as Councilor Albedo, attended important government meetings and acted as the voice of the Core in political and military affairs.Unbeknownst to humanity, however, TechnoCore also had motives of its own, most notably the construction of the UI, or "Ultimate Intelligence", an extremely advanced computer entity with intelligence described as being "as far beyond the Core's understanding as the Core is beyond humanity's". To aid itself in this plan, the Core secretly used the network of farcaster
Farcaster
A farcaster is an instantaneous transportation device in the fictional Hyperion universe. Farcasters allow two points separated by a vast distance to be brought together at a Farcaster Portal. The Farcaster network connects hundreds of planets of the Hegemony of Man into their WorldWeb...
s (instantaneous transport gates similar to wormholes) to parasitise the minds of humans moving through them.
Towards the 29th Century, TechnoCore had split into three factions: the Volatiles, who wished to exterminate humanity altogether, the Ultimates, who were concerned only with the UI project, and the Stables, who wished to leave humanity intact and opposed the UI (although this was motivated primarily out of the fact that if the UI were to be created, all other AIs in the TechnoCore would be annihilated). As civil war raged in the Core, the Volatiles used secretly constructed fleets of starships in an attempt to destroy humanity. Their plan, however, was foiled when the Human Hegemony CEO Meina Gladstone destroyed the farcaster network before the assault could be completed (although the Hegemony collapsed in the process). It was initially thought that the TechnoCore had been destroyed by this action.
In actuality, it survived the collapse of the Farcaster grid and some centuries later struck a deal with the Pax (the Theocratic government of most of humanity at that time)- the Core had developed the "cruciform" parasite which was able to resurrect its host should they be killed. Whilst most of humanity used the cruciforms, they also allowed the Core to use their brains for computing power. Their schemes were once again thwarted when the messianic figure Aenea revealed the deception of the Pax and the Core to humanity.
It is mentioned in "Orphans of the Helix
Orphans of the Helix
"Orphans of the Helix" is a 46-page short story by Dan Simmons set in his Hyperion Cantos fictional universe...
", set over 400 years after the fall of the Pax, that the TechnoCore is no longer active by this time, and its AIs are in alliance with humanity again.