Synthetic intelligence is the generic term for advanced general artificial intelligence which meets or exceeds (at least in some respects) that of natural sophonts such as humans or biran.

The creation of sentient synthetic intelligences, in contrast to expert systems, has been comparatively limited in the twelve worlds. The development of such systems has met with success in two ways: through the emulation of meticulously scanned organic brains, and through the creation of detailed simulations created to favour the evolutionary emergence of general intelligence. However, both methods have drawbacks sufficient that synthetic intelligences have had only an apparently modest impact on society despite centuries of development.

Uploaded Intelligences

Uploaded intelligences are created by creating a simulation of the brain of an organic sophont organism, or copying an existing successful simulation.

Evolved Intelligences

Evolved intelligences are created by designing a detailed simulation of organisms subject to mutation and engineered selectional pressures designed to favor the emergence of general intelligence.

In the Allied Worlds, synthetic intelligences are recognized as natural persons, and possess all the civil rights of any other citizen. Courts have forbidden them from being duplicated without their consent, though when duplicates are made illicitly, the duplicates have been afforded the same rights and protections as their parents.