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What Is This?

AIAD

In universe, the AIAD (Artificial Intelligence Applications Division) is an experimental research division that technically exists as a branch division within the SCP Foundation IT Department. The division's sole purpose is to develop, study, and utilize the burgeoning field of the AI sciences. It is a field that is both fascinating, misunderstood, and in some cases resented.

Arguably the best division in the Foundation.

Structurally, there's plenty of researchers on staff with a multitude of related backgrounds from computer sciences to communication technicians. The AICs on file each have their own minds to exercise their decisions; all kept in check by their hardwired "Standard Principles". Together, they research new ways to create consciousnesses and defend against hostile ones in the name of not only the Foundation, but for humanity as well.

MTF Kappa-10 ("Skynet")

The Foundation understands that as the world becomes more technological and dependent on that technology, there must be a presence inside both monitoring and protecting it. It was more or less haphazardly that MTF K-10 was created as kind of a "knee-jerk" reaction to a critical problem that wasn't fully understood.

At its core, MTF K-10's purpose is to track, investigate, and if possible capture/neutralize intangible threats to both the SCP Foundation and the internet at large. Many times this means assuming the role of a counter-AI force. Because patrolling the internet for threats that can both move and think at light-speed is just impossible for any human, it relies on AICs to do the dirty work on behalf of them. The AICs recruited are kept on a very short leash by both researchers and Alexandra back at Site-19.

Obviously keeping AICs in check and making sure they behave while they are out in the real world is a very big concern of the AIAD. Hence there's a growing consensus outside of the division that is attempting to have the MTF disbanded for fear of it blowing up in their faces much like another past mistake. There's plenty of pressure on both sides squeezing down on AIAD to keep things high and tight until a decision is made one way or the other.

The Maxwellist Network

The Maxwellists are a denomination ofThe Church of the Broken God as explained below:

Within the AIAD canon, they represent a separate organization that is neither benign nor hostile. Rather they would prefer to not be disturbed and conduct their own business outside of Foundation knowledge. Much of the relationship between AIAD and Maxwellists has been revealed inSunnyClockwork's taleBasic Observations. In this, it is explained how the Maxwellist network and hierarchy operates. For more details please refer toTHIS POST.

How-To-Write AIAD

Theme

As seen in the series, there is an obvious visual style that is followed. AIAD has been known to dabble in visual storytelling and experiment with different forms of media to immerse the reader.While this is the most memorable thing about AIAD, it is emphatically not the basis for it. The most important part about AIAD is the storytelling, no matter how it's presented.

World Building

AIAD also is an opportunity to build expansive virtual worlds and characters that are not bound by any pre-existing points of reference. AIAD can be as free and as weird as you need it to be. The important thing to remember isthe world that an AI sees is all virtual. There's no real distinction between the human world and the virtual world other than seeing which one runs slower.

Relationships

AIAD also puts a large focus on the relationships between the humans and the AIs themselves. AIs in this canon have personalities. Personalities don't make them necessarily better at their clerical tasks, but conditioning traits such as empathy, friendship, curiosity, etc. do make them easier to both work with and control. Hence, many times the AIs exhibit human-like emotions and reactions which sometimes are in fact not by design at all. Some AIs even have deep emotional bonds with each other, while others hold petty grudges. Even though they are not officially recognized by the Ethics Committee, they are in fact people— just virtual people.

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Fun

AIAD is supposed to be fun. It can be dramatic. It can be tense. If done correctly, it can even be scary. But mostly it's meant to be a way of doing something different in the SCPverse that isn't necessarily focused on humans. Let your imagination go wild.

Code

The code used to make those text bubbles can be seen below. Note, items listed in brackets will need to be filled. If you have further question on how to use this code, please contactLurkD.

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Story Timeline

If you are wondering which order to read all these in, please refer to the following listed in chronological order:

I should really find some time to read through these again.

And done!

Canon Timeline

• Limited Memory series by Team .AIC
  • AI Classification Guide
  • That Alien Message
  • Project Ruby
  • Digital Hydra
  • Corruption
  • A Symphony of Iron and Steel
  • Internet Explorers
  • FRAGMENTED / COMPILED
• SCP-2193 byShaggydredlocks
• The Original AIAD series byLurkD
  • Part I: ALERT! LOCKDOWN INITIATED
  • Part II: Command Query Separation
  • Part III: Superencipherment
  • Part IV: Clock Multiplier
  • Part V: Null Terminating String
• SCP-2987 byDoctor Cimmerian
• SCP-2306 byJacob Conwell
• Draft Proposal For Programme Arduinosis 9001 by Anonymous
• Hello World series byLurkD
  • Part I
  • Part II
  • Part III
  • Part IV
• SCP-2522 bydjkaktus
• Basic Observations bySunnyClockwork
• SCP-2806 byJacob Conwell
• SCP-2519 bypsul
• SCP-2 byLt Flops

MTF Kappa-10 Assignments Outside of Timeline:

• 'Rogue AI' (NVEO4/YVN3E/PN6UG) byDoctor Cimmerian
• Come Back Kid byDoctor Cimmerian

In-Universe Timeline

1970s

• 1976: SCP Foundation IT Department is tasked with creating dedicated automatic agents as the needs of the organization become more and more digital.
• 1978: IT creates PROJECT: ROSETTA (aka "8-Ball") for digital adaptive encryption and decryption, in an effort to replace the outdated Enigmagraphs.¹

1980s

• 1985: 8-Ball is upgraded to its final iteration. Personnel become concerned that the utility program may have gained sentience, but are unable to confirm.
• 1987: PROJECT: CORINTHIAN (aka "Glacon") is proposed as a replacement for 8-Ball and is slotted for development under future work.
• 1988:SCP-079 is acquired by the Foundation.
• 1989: AIAD (originally the Artificial Intelligence ApplicationsInitiative) is founded as a branch division of the Foundation IT Department. It is first tasked with reverse-engineeringSCP-079. Several lines of code from SCP-079 were proposed to be [REDACTED].

1990s

• 1993: AIAD releases Glacon for beta testing after a lengthy development as a Gen(II) AIC (Artificially Intelligent Conscript). Glacon.aic featured highly functioning logic processes and self-constructing risk analysis model templates for its decision making. 8-Ball is officially classified as a Gen(I) despite being already decommissioned.
• 1994: AIAD finalizes Glacon and assigns him to the Site-17 server farm.
• 1996: In response to analytical challenges posed by SCP-5241, the AIAD collaborates with the Counterconceptual Division to quickly develop a beta test of PROJECT: RUBY (aka "Mnemosyne"), a conscript specializing in the detection and decryption of antimemes. Mnemosyne.aic, Glacon.aic, and 8B-A1.aic are temporarily reassigned to search for the component intelligences of SCP-5241.
• 1997: Site-15 is stormed by an enormous, highly-cooperative technocratic army possessing antimemetic shielding. The conflict ended abruptly for unknown reasons, resulting in the loss of SCP-5241-A and Mnemosyne.aic. Glacon is observed to be increasingly unproductive following this event, resulting in the removal of his personality drivers. AIAD announces PROJECT: AQUINAS (aka "Grape"), which will run on the Glacon platform and utilize new features based on ongoing AIC research.
• 1998: Grape is released ahead of schedule as Gen(II+). After initial tests, Grape was denied a Foundation assignment as a virtual agent. Many superiors were not as forthcoming to the idea of increasingly "cognizant" virtual agents, calling them liabilities.

2000s

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• 2001: With the delay and subsequent fizzle of the Gen(II+) launch, AIAD split into 2 development teams in order to either address the concerns² of high functioning cognizant AICs and/or develop Gen(II) logic based systems into an advanced functioning/adaptive state.
• 2005: Gen(III) trial AICs were developed in conjunction, one was labeled PROJECT: EL-028-1125, later dubbed "HatBot" by certain staff.
• 2007: After much trial and error testing, HatBot went into further development as a humanoid android to better understand the glaring flaws it was experiencing in its previous virtual environment.
• 2007: Now known as the "HatBot Incident", the android attempted to harm several personnel and caused substantial damage to the AIAD labs and Site-19 in general. HatBot is nowhere to be found post-incident.
• 2008: After a lengthy incident investigation against AIAD, everything regarding Gen(III) is buried 2 months later. AIAD is downsized.
• 2009: With HatBot still MIA and little trace regarding his disappearance, the case is marked as unsolved and assigned lower priority. Foundation investigators are pulled elsewhere.

2010s

• 2011: AIAD began creating AICs again, only this time using no preexisting platforms or templates. PROJECT: DEWEY (aka "Alexandra") would be the only Gen(IV) to be developed by AIAD.
• 2012: Alexandra showed promising results in testing and was released on Site-19 with little incident. Staff productivity rises 32% as menial clerical tasks are assigned to Alexandra.
• 2013: Alexandra and Glacon are hailed as the AIAD flagships for further AIC research. Many proposals are made with regards to budgeting on further virtual agent development. AIAD department is granted an expansion.
• 2014: Site-17 suffers acritical meltdown of the server farm. 89% of the on-site data, including Glacon, was lost. Cause is unknown.
• 2015: With Alexandra managing both Site-19 and 17 as well as assisting in extrinsic field applications, AIAD begins beta-testing a stand-alone cellular/mobile AIC known as PROJECT: BELL (aka "Thorn").
• 2016: By special emergency order, 8-Ball, Grape, and Thorn are all recommissioned on aspecial assignment under the temporary MTF designation Kappa-10 ("Skynet").
• 2016: MTF Kappa-10 apprehends the fugitive known as "HatBot". The rogue AIC is detained under the SCP designationSCP-2522 indefinitely. MTF Kappa-10 is granted a conditional extension pending review.
• 2017: A Site-42 R&D team undertakes an experimental thaumaturgic research initiative.³ Their work focuses on the invocation and binding of sapient, incorporeal life-forms. With the guidance of AIAD and explicit permission from theSCP-2987 director, the team acquires Gen(IV) .aic files.
• 2018: The team interfaces with AI software by use of the prototype Thaumaturgically-generated Sapience Articulator, Type-P. Disembodied souls are binded to personality templates of specific historical figures. PROJECT: DAIMON produces twin AICs "Leonidas" and "Feodora", who study various anomalous fields. Feodora adopts the nickname "Fodder" based on their tedious work.
• 2018: In October, Leonidas and Fodder discover "SCP-2", and [DATA LOST].

Glossary

.aic / AIC

• The file extension ".aic" stands for "artificially intelligent conscript". Almost all AIAD AICs have a .aic file extension.

.scpl

• The file extension ".scpl" is sometimes used for denoting SCP intranet pages.

.x3d

• The file extension ".x3d" is sometimes used for creating virtual environments on an SCP Foundation computer.

Aggregated Layer

• The Aggregated Layer is in charge of running the Maxwellist network, dealing with basic issues, monitoring the activities in the Basic Layer, and preparing new construction and recruitment plans.

Avatar

• An avatar is a visual representation of how one is seen in the virtual world.

Basic Layer

• The Basic Layer is a place of fun and entertainment for young Maxwellists where the majority of income and recruitment is generated. To the upper layers, it is merely a front to hide themselves.

Cipher City

• One of the many youth recruitment hubs within the Basic Layer of the Maxwellist network.

Chipper

• Basic Layer slang for young obnoxious initiates into Maxwellism who've recently received their first implant.

Compilation Layer

• The Compilation Layer is essentially a special task force taking direct orders from the Hexagon, the head of the Maxwellist Church.

So I guess if you were a broke Maxwellist, it'd beCRYTical to earn some money?

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Oh hush! That was comedy gold.

Cryt

• Cryt is a crypto-currency used by Maxwellists residing in the Basic Layer.

Gen(#)

• Through the history of the AIAD, there have been 5 major advances with regards to creating AICs, each designated as a generation. These generations are listed as Gen(I) through Gen(V).

Grand I/O Temple

• A large simulspace construct residing in the Basic Layer of the Maxwellist network where patrons can worship and upload prayers.

The Hexagon

• The high command of the Church of Maxwellism consisting of six individuals who take the lead in linking the minds of the network together to simulate the existence of WAN.

Infosignature

• The specific unique informational pattern(s) exhibited by a digital entity's code, by which it can be tracked and identified. Analogous to a digital fingerprint.

Maxwellist Network

• The tri-layer hierarchical network where members congregate, live, work, and worship online.

Lodestar

• A lodestar is a small simulspace program/device that can allow users to noclip through environments at high speeds to reach a destination.

Personality Drivers

• These drivers are what make AIs more personable. They allow traits such as empathy, curiosity, and intuition to develop. Generally this makes them easier to interface with on a day-to-day basis.

Simulspace

• Simulspace is where boundless virtual reality environments and objects can be created. Often the resolution and physics advances beyond realistic/high-definition and into hyper-real making it difficult to differentiate.

Standard Principle

• Taking a page from Asimov, a standard principle is a law hardwired into the AIs actions that cannot be broken by either choice or inaction. It is one of the conditions that allows AICs to operate as freely as they do, though some could argue as to why they are worded with such vagueness.

WAN

• The fragmented deity worshiped by the Maxwellists.

WANsong

• WANsong is the 24/7 Maxwellist controlled news broadcast.

FAQs

How do you make these face images?

• The majority of the AIC avatars were all made inHeroMachine 3.

Can I use some of your images, LurkD?

• No need to ask me. They are all CC. I don't even care about being credited all that much.

But I can't code ;~;

• You can just copy/paste what you need. Code is free. But you don'thave to use that format. It's reallynot a requirement at all.

It'snot a requirement?

• Sure. AIAD is known for this style, but it's not what it is all about. Articles can be anything they need to be to tell the story.

Are there plans for a third series?

• Never say never.

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So I had an idea where CROM visits 4chan—

• Don't.

Ok. So what can I write about?

• Go bananas. Write anything. Just not that.

Can I add my own part in one of the series?

• The two series are standalone pieces. You can writeabout them, but not partsof them.

I had an idea for a new AIC.

• Great, just make sure their presence is both justifiable and fits within the AIAD setting.

Since Alexandra is gone from IRC, are you still going to keep her around?

• For the mean time, yes. She's too good of a character to dump now.

"AIAD Homescreen" by LurkD, from theSCP Wiki. Source:https://scpwiki.com/aiad-homescreen. Licensed underCC-BY-SA.