Zenricho Defense Control - ZDC

Zenricho Defense Control (ZDC) is the artificial intelligence system that tracks, manages, and controls most of Zenricho's planetary defenses. It is the most powerful legal AI with significant control in the galaxy.

Access

ZDC is a government-level artificial intelligence defense system. While files and information are constantly submitted to its database, no one outside of Zenricho's defense department can access the AI. It is illegal to attempt to contact or control the AI and hacking should not be attempted lest security protocols activate.

Complexity

"Something's wrong."
"What do you mean?"
"ZeDeC is picking up dozens of ships. But none of them are visible."

— A specialist at the defense department

ZDC is probably one of the most complex AIs in existence. Its processing speed is faster than light and the detail in its code is incredible. The majority of planetary defense specialists employed at the defense department work on coding related to ZDC, either keeping it running, protecting it from hackers, or submitting information to be processed.

Utility

ZDC tracks and manages nearly all of Zenricho's planetary defenses. Every call made by approaching ships is stored in its database and the AI keeps track of everything going on outside the atmosphere. Per IPA guidelines about artificial intelligence, the program has no self-awareness and limited access to systems. It monitors and manages systems such as scanners, radio frequencies, weapons (limited per IPA law), and more.

ZDC's primary goal is to monitor approaching and departing starships for hostile activity, report them to correct authorities, and defend against them if required. Because of this, it has access to various weaponry systems, something no other AI is allowed to do. It is only allowed this power because it has no personality hardware and is unconnected to anything other than the planetary defenses.

by Lilliana Casper

Social Impact

ZDC was originally created to take the stress off of those in charge of defending Zenricho, one of the most populated and important planets in the galaxy. It succeeded, allowing those in the defense department to focus on simply keeping the AI running rather than processing everything personally. Public reaction to its release was mixed, with some glad for the change and others concerned over how much control it would have. ZDC's inventor, Vincent Graft, was careful to follow all of the IPA's guidelines and laws concerning artificial intelligence and public opinion of the AI has softened into acceptance of its existence.

Here at the defense department, we just say ZeDeC. Might be a little familiar, but it doesn't know or care.

— A planetary defense specialist

Inventor(s)

Vincent Graft

AI Legality

Guidelines for the access that artificial intelligence programs are allowed have been set for years. Under the Polaris Alliance, AI was far less restricted, which occasionally resulted in malfunctions and takeovers. When the IPA grew in power, it set strict regulations regarding AI legality, power, and spread. Under the regulations, AIs cannot control public or military transportation, weapons systems, or life support technology. Self-aware AIs are even more restricted.
ZDC is able to control weaponry because it is restricted to Zenricho's defense and is part of a closed system. While information is passed between it and other departments, there is no other connection. ZDC is also unaware and is solely a processing system. Questions of AI legality have also been brought up concerning the far more complex AI that manages the popular video game Conquerors, but the Conquerors AI fits into a similar loophole because it has no processes other than the game.

by Lilliana Casper