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  • Subject: Cortana capable of love? (MC)
Subject: Cortana capable of love? (MC)
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:)

Okay, we'll start out simple with a quote from wikipedia.

"Robert Plutchik created a wheel of emotions in 1980 which consisted of 8 basic emotions and 8 advanced emotions each composed of 2 basic ones."

Those 8 basic emotions are listed below.

Basic Emotions

Joy
Trust
Fear
Surprise
Sadness
Disgust
Anger
Anticipation


Now, in accordance with Plutchik's 'theory', 'Love' at its core consists of two 'basic' emotions, both of which Cortana has demonstrated; Joy and Trust (Of course, there are other signs).

We know Cortana is fascinated by the Master Chief. We know by certain comments within Halo 3's campaign, that she cares for him a lot. We know that she trusts him, and is generally happy when he's around/awake.

It seems completely plausible that Cortana is capable of love.

Now, you're probably thinking "Why is this important?"

Well, with Cortana's impeding rampancy, things could get really bad for the Chief. Think about it, if Cortana 'loves' the Chief in her current unstable state, a single comment or action that she doesn't agree with could send her into straight rampancy (Which seems to flip an AIs emotion 180 degress. I.e, turning that 'love' into hate.)

Not to mention she might become overly protective of the Chief - One example that comes to mind is making sure no one finds them in space so she can have him all to her self.

Just something I thought of then. Kinda related to Halo 4, kinda not.

I guess you can try and discuss, though I'm not sure if there is much to talk about anyway. :)

  • 10.09.2011 7:24 AM PDT

This sounds like a plausible idea they could touch on. The story of Halo 4 seems to revolve around the Cortana/John relationship more then ever, and its been implied from the get go she has some feelings towards Chief (but is it love or the motherly protection of her "child" Halsey felt?)

Its questions like these that make me look forward to Halo 4.

[Edited on 10.09.2011 7:33 AM PDT]

  • 10.09.2011 7:33 AM PDT
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Posted by: chotato
smart, interesting, seems out of place.


Official fan of Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, (Problem with that?) Halo, and Bungie, also a total gaming junkie.

Interesting theory. I never thought of her going crazy because of her love for Chief.

  • 10.09.2011 8:07 AM PDT

"Don't mistake your rank and number for superiority.
The oldest child may learn from the youngest."

That is a very probable theory, and I think it's something they'll definetly touch on, at the very least, in Halo 4. Perhaps it may even be a big motif of its story.

I'm looking forward to any upcoming trailers they release, whether it's any time soon or months from now, that hint at any themes in Halo 4.

  • 10.09.2011 8:20 AM PDT
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We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other.

Very interesting theory indeed.

If I had to call it love, which I am calling it, its like the motherly love that Halsey had, not any intimate "Lets make kids" love. She looks out for John and guides him, those are two traits a mother shows on and on, shes protective, intuitive, caring, and trusting in Chief. That spells motherly love if you ask me.

  • 10.09.2011 8:22 AM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

OP's coup...badass.

OT: Ya know, this may sound, I don't know, weird? But, I hope Cortana confesses her love for Chief. She's capable of other emotions, why not love? But, even though she's confessing Eros Love (s3xual), they shouldn't have her do it in a horny schoolgirlish way. She's sophisticated, obviously, so they should have it be realistic. Like have her looking toward the ground in an embarrassed way or something believable like that. However, Chief being the super soldier, human he is obviously can't "accept" her love. This sounds pretty stupid because I can't describe it well, but the way I see it in my mind I can see happening realistically.

[Edited on 10.09.2011 8:33 AM PDT]

  • 10.09.2011 8:32 AM PDT

Maybe a BJ would work?

...Brain job?

  • 10.10.2011 11:31 AM PDT

Posted by: I Em I Raptor
Very interesting theory indeed.

If I had to call it love, which I am calling it, its like the motherly love that Halsey had, not any intimate "Lets make kids" love. She looks out for John and guides him, those are two traits a mother shows on and on, shes protective, intuitive, caring, and trusting in Chief. That spells motherly love if you ask me.


I always saw her as being more like his big sis...

  • 10.11.2011 9:12 AM PDT

https://www.facebook.com/Number01Starscream

In Halo Legends Cortana made herself lifesize when she was leaning on the chief while he was sleeping

Sometimes Master Chief needs to massage his attacted toy
Thats when Cortana comes in

When theres no cameras, Cortana gives The Chief lapdances



Posted by: I Em I Raptor
Very interesting theory indeed.

If I had to call it love, which I am calling it, its like the motherly love that Halsey had, not any intimate "Lets make kids" love. She looks out for John and guides him, those are two traits a mother shows on and on, shes protective, intuitive, caring, and trusting in Chief. That spells motherly love if you ask me.

  • 10.11.2011 11:40 AM PDT

Don't worry, you're still your mom's favorite Bnet member.

Yes, Cortana is entirely capable of loving and is possibly in love with Master Chief. Alternatively, the augmentations have possibly left Master Chief unable to love. The tragic irony of the relationship is that Cortana - a computer - can feel love and emotion while John - a human - cannot.

But we all know Chief cares about Cortana. Perhaps Chief knows that he definitely feels something different about Cortana, but isn't quite sure what that is, how to figure it out or how to express it.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 1:34 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 1:32 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.

She is a machine based off of a human brain. Any emotions are merely predetermined reactions to events. Machines do not feel. They approximate emotions but are incapable of creating their own.
Meta-stable AI are said to be as close to human as an AI can get. Until Cortana becomes meta-stable she can not have emotion.

  • 10.11.2011 1:43 PM PDT


Posted by: Xd00999
She is a machine based off of a human brain. Any emotions are merely predetermined reactions to events. Machines do not feel. They approximate emotions but are incapable of creating their own.
Meta-stable AI are said to be as close to human as an AI can get. Until Cortana becomes meta-stable she can not have emotion.


In playing through the games, you can't say that Cortana doesn't have emotion. I know what you're getting at: that she merely mirrors emotion, but I don't think this is true. If she merely mirrors how Halsey would react to situations, then she wouldn't show much emotion at all as Halsey never experienced the crazy ish that Cortana and the Chief have gone through.

This is the kind of conversation that winds up asking the question "What is human?". Mentally, Cortana is as human as all of us. She has her own emotions, and ideas. The digital clone of Halsey's brain is merely a framework in which Cortana's mind works.

  • 10.11.2011 3:12 PM PDT

not to hijack, but can Cortana manipulate physical objects from her projection? I thought she was just a hologram, but in Halo Origins, she clears the frost from MC's cryo tube.

  • 10.11.2011 3:38 PM PDT

I really hope they don't try and establish a physical relationship between her and the Chief. I do believe that her strong feelings for him should be emphasized, and they he do the same for her, just as he did rescuing her from the overrun High Charity. I too see Cortana as a sister to John and I believe their relationship together is more based on a family type of love.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 3:46 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 3:41 PM PDT
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Do not waste your tears, I was not born to watch the world grow dim. Life is not measured in years, but by the deeds of men.

Posted by: goldhawk
We should know better, because we are better.


Posted by: Thugzz Deluxxxe

Posted by: Xd00999
She is a machine based off of a human brain. Any emotions are merely predetermined reactions to events. Machines do not feel. They approximate emotions but are incapable of creating their own.
Meta-stable AI are said to be as close to human as an AI can get. Until Cortana becomes meta-stable she can not have emotion.


In playing through the games, you can't say that Cortana doesn't have emotion. I know what you're getting at: that she merely mirrors emotion, but I don't think this is true. If she merely mirrors how Halsey would react to situations, then she wouldn't show much emotion at all as Halsey never experienced the crazy ish that Cortana and the Chief have gone through.

This is the kind of conversation that winds up asking the question "What is human?". Mentally, Cortana is as human as all of us. She has her own emotions, and ideas. The digital clone of Halsey's brain is merely a framework in which Cortana's mind works.


She appears to have emotions because was designed to. She "loves" John because Halsey did. She "trusts" John because Halsey did. She acts this way because Halsey acts this way. She responds to Halo in the way Halsey would: awe, curiosity, intrigued. Just because Halsey didn't experience it doesn't mean one doesn't know how she would react.

  • 10.11.2011 3:58 PM PDT

Generalizations.
Helping idiots hate other idiots since people have existed.


Posted by: CubsBlow2
not to hijack, but can Cortana manipulate physical objects from her projection? I thought she was just a hologram, but in Halo Origins, she clears the frost from MC's cryo tube.


No, she can't. Remember, she is just a computer program. The company that made Halo Origins made a canon mistake. It's simply a hologram.

[Edited on 10.11.2011 4:07 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 4:05 PM PDT

Why are you here?

Plausible idea. Now that I think about, Cortana's emotions could become a major conflict in the upcoming series...

  • 10.11.2011 6:52 PM PDT


Posted by: Thugzz Deluxxxe

Posted by: Xd00999
She is a machine based off of a human brain. Any emotions are merely predetermined reactions to events. Machines do not feel. They approximate emotions but are incapable of creating their own.
Meta-stable AI are said to be as close to human as an AI can get. Until Cortana becomes meta-stable she can not have emotion.


In playing through the games, you can't say that Cortana doesn't have emotion. I know what you're getting at: that she merely mirrors emotion, but I don't think this is true. If she merely mirrors how Halsey would react to situations, then she wouldn't show much emotion at all as Halsey never experienced the crazy ish that Cortana and the Chief have gone through.

This is the kind of conversation that winds up asking the question "What is human?". Mentally, Cortana is as human as all of us. She has her own emotions, and ideas. The digital clone of Halsey's brain is merely a framework in which Cortana's mind works.


Relevent

I agree with the Doctor in the video

  • 10.11.2011 7:54 PM PDT


Posted by: oaklandp8ntbalr

Posted by: CubsBlow2
not to hijack, but can Cortana manipulate physical objects from her projection? I thought she was just a hologram, but in Halo Origins, she clears the frost from MC's cryo tube.


No, she can't. Remember, she is just a computer program. The company that made Halo Origins made a canon mistake. It's simply a hologram.


Its not a canon mistake, its a deliberate metaphor that ties into the being human question. Cortana wants to be human, to feel human, yet she is seperated by humanity by a metaphorical glass wall. She can see us as we see here, but she can comprehend us no more then we can her.

I feel this will be explored in Halo 4: is Cortana "human?"

[Edited on 10.11.2011 7:59 PM PDT]

  • 10.11.2011 7:57 PM PDT

Plausable theory.

Although I doubt Cortana and Chief's love is the kind of romantic love. I think Chief misses her most because she (litterally) completes him as a person, not because he loves her in a romantic way. And I also think Cortana loves Chief in a sort of motherly way, the way she protects him and the background she has as being part of Halseys mind (who also had motherly feelings and admiration for Chief.

Is Cortana capable of love? I think so. But I doubt the love goes into romantic areas.
Still, even non-romantic love could cause situations like the OP suggests. It would be interesting to see 343i go there, but they do need to avoid romantic feelings between the two if they want it to succeed (as romance would get criticed...A LOT).

EDIT:
Also: AI in the Halo Universe CAN in fact experience emotions. Remember Contact Harvest? The AI in that book didn't simply mirror, but experience and show real emotions before and after becoming instable...

[Edited on 10.12.2011 1:52 AM PDT]

  • 10.12.2011 1:46 AM PDT

prozeyic

In Halo Legends we saw her slip into rampancy. Maybe she's slipping in and out if that's possible. It would be interesting to see her emotionally break down in Halo 4.

  • 10.12.2011 3:59 AM PDT
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No 1!!!
Spartans should not LOVE !
If they start loving they start losing...
Its like those 2000 movies ...Alll super soldiers have no feelings because they ruin them....

  • 10.12.2011 8:24 AM PDT


Posted by: Xd00999

Posted by: Thugzz Deluxxxe

Posted by: Xd00999
She is a machine based off of a human brain. Any emotions are merely predetermined reactions to events. Machines do not feel. They approximate emotions but are incapable of creating their own.
Meta-stable AI are said to be as close to human as an AI can get. Until Cortana becomes meta-stable she can not have emotion.


In playing through the games, you can't say that Cortana doesn't have emotion. I know what you're getting at: that she merely mirrors emotion, but I don't think this is true. If she merely mirrors how Halsey would react to situations, then she wouldn't show much emotion at all as Halsey never experienced the crazy ish that Cortana and the Chief have gone through.

This is the kind of conversation that winds up asking the question "What is human?". Mentally, Cortana is as human as all of us. She has her own emotions, and ideas. The digital clone of Halsey's brain is merely a framework in which Cortana's mind works.


She appears to have emotions because was designed to. She "loves" John because Halsey did. She "trusts" John because Halsey did. She acts this way because Halsey acts this way. She responds to Halo in the way Halsey would: awe, curiosity, intrigued. Just because Halsey didn't experience it doesn't mean one doesn't know how she would react.


I believe a complex enough machine could be considered to be alive, as I see humans and animals as nothing more than very complex machines.

OT Great theory, and I could certainly see it being used in halo 4.

  • 10.12.2011 8:44 AM PDT

Vengeance only leads to an ongoing cycle of hatred.

*Cortana's reaction after Chief rejects her, for obvious reasons.*

  • 10.12.2011 1:02 PM PDT