Is Sentient AI Tech "Time-Gated"?

[Pizzarugi]

I've been very excited about synthetic ascension coming in Utopia, so I've been testing to see how quickly I can unlock this tech in order to find out how much time is going to pass before I can unlock the ascension. Every single time, I manage to research all the prerequisites for sentient AI (self-aware logic, advanced governments, etc) around the 40-50 year mark, but I never manage to unlock the tech itself for another 30-40.

It's boggling my mind, honestly. I have scientists on hand at all times with computer science or spark of genius so it's not like they're what's slowing me down. The only information I have is what's on the wiki and as far as I understand, it's rather outdated.

Are there other requirements to research sentient AI or is it gated by time and won't show up until mid-lategame?

 

[Summin Cool]

Spoiler: Code

tech_sentient_ai = {
    area = physics
    tier = 3
    cost = @tier2cost4
    category = { computing }
    is_rare = yes
    is_dangerous = yes
    prerequisites = { "tech_self_aware_logic" }
    weight = @tier2weight4
   
    modifier = {
        all_technology_research_speed = 0.10
    }
   
    weight_modifier = {
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.10
            NOR = {
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_curator"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_spark_of_genius"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_maniacal"
                }
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.25
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
                has_level > 2
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.10
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_maniacal"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.20
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_spark_of_genius"
            }
        }
        #BREAKTHROUGH - check for scientist
    }
   
    ai_weight = {
        factor = 3 #rare tech
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.25
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
            }
        }
    }
}

It doesn't appear to be so, but to unlock Tier 3 techs you need to research a certain amount of techs. It's looking like a soft time gate

 

[Pizzarugi]

Spoiler: Code

tech_sentient_ai = {
    area = physics
    tier = 3
    cost = @tier2cost4
    category = { computing }
    is_rare = yes
    is_dangerous = yes
    prerequisites = { "tech_self_aware_logic" }
    weight = @tier2weight4
  
    modifier = {
        all_technology_research_speed = 0.10
    }
  
    weight_modifier = {
        modifier = {
            factor = 0.10
            NOR = {
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_curator"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_spark_of_genius"
                }
                research_leader = {
                    area = physics
                    has_trait = "leader_trait_maniacal"
                }
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.25
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
                has_level > 2
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.10
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_maniacal"
            }
        }
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.20
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_spark_of_genius"
            }
        }
        #BREAKTHROUGH - check for scientist
    }
  
    ai_weight = {
        factor = 3 #rare tech
        modifier = {
            factor = 1.25
            research_leader = {
                area = physics
                has_trait = "leader_trait_expertise_computing"
            }
        }
    }
}

It doesn't appear to be so, but to unlock Tier 3 techs you need to research a certain amount of techs. It's looking like a soft time gate

That's very enlightening. A friend of mine whom I played with assumed that this was the case (in a completely unrelated topic), but I wasn't sure if this was right. Thanks for confirming that, it explains a lot!

 

[Fjolsvid]

In my experience it is possible to get that fast, but you need to dump a lot of resources into Physics. Intelligent+ natural physics researchers+ fast learners, Obviously fanatic materialists, science oligarchy government fo the additional cards. Correct governor - planetary governor with bonus to research, scientist with computers,

Tech path is usually physics labs 1, administrative AI, data banks, and whatever useful to get to level 2: solar panels or sensor tech.
Level 2: Research initiative as first tech of the level, then physics labs 2, self-aware logic (by this time you can be finishing the government tree), improved data banks, 1-2 more techs before level 3 unlocks: i suggest energy techs, but whatever you need.

On the planet build a research lab as a first building, preferably on a physics tile. add 2 more as time goes and upgrade them. Research institute is a priority. Also, get the respective planetary edict and Free Thought policy from the start.

In the end, it's not really super effective, but as a challenge it's doable

 

[Neocv]

The easiest and surest way to get Sentient AI it is by finding the Infinite Sphere in Leviathans, it is a really good way to get it especially if you choose hacking the sphere (as a materialist) instead of comunicating with it. This way you can get Sentient AI without having the prerequisites, there was a time that I've had Sentient AI around year 25 due to this, and I didn't had droids by that time.

But to get synthetics you will have to research all the other prerequisites.

 

[Pizzarugi]

The easiest and surest way to get Sentient AI it is by finding the Infinite Sphere in Leviathans, it is a really good way to get it especially if you choose hacking the sphere (as a materialist) instead of comunicating with it. This way you can get Sentient AI without having the prerequisites, there was a time that I've had Sentient AI around year 25 due to this, and I didn't had droids by that time.

But to get synthetics you will have to research all the other prerequisites.

You can try hacking the infinity machine and get sentient AI out of it? I didn't know that was an option. I only knew that it's available as a reward for trying to help it.

The only issue after that is hoping it spawns near your empire and not half the galaxy away in the border of an empire that closed access off from you.

 

[Mitchz95]

I got Sentient AI pretty early on, but none of the robotics techs ever showed up afterward.

 

[Neocv]

You can try hacking the infinity machine and get sentient AI out of it? I didn't know that was an option. I only knew that it's available as a reward for trying to help it.

The only issue after that is hoping it spawns near your empire and not half the galaxy away in the border of an empire that closed access off from you.

To be able to hack the machine, you need to have a 5 star scientist and Materialist ethos(when I played I was a Fanatical Materialist but I imagine that if you are a Materialist you can also be able to hack it). It takes a while but far less time than trying to help it. The option show after you investigate the signals that the machine send.

As a reward you get Sentient AI, 3% of research of all types of science and I think that something else, but I'm not sure.

You also get a alternative option if you are a spiritualist, instead of comunicating with it you can choose to make it as a 'Instrument of the Divine' as the game call it if I'm not mistaked, and win a 5% boost of happiness, in case you didn't know.

And it wouldn't make sense if was always easy to get this technology, but with a bit of luck you can always get it near your empire. There was a time when I've got in the vicinities of my empire(literely next to it) the Infinity Machine and a broken ring world with a Conclave, but thats are details.

If you are not playing Ironman, you can always use the console to see the whole map, or try the hard way, keep visiting the neighborings Black Holes, and reseting the game until you find it.

 

[IronVanguard]

I've been going in assuming getting the 4 ascension perk slots will be the longer task.

Actually, has it been shown you need the tech for the ascension? It'd make sense but I haven't seen the prerequisites yet besides minimum slots unlocked.

 

[Pizzarugi]

I've been going in assuming getting the 4 ascension perk slots will be the longer task.

Actually, has it been shown you need the tech for the ascension? It'd make sense but I haven't seen the prerequisites yet besides minimum slots unlocked.

I'm basing it off the dev diary here: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/foru...3-synthetic-and-biological-ascension.1002382/ It says it requires you have the ability to build synths.

And you're probably right that it might take longer to unlock the 4 ascension slots which requires 4 completed traditions (3 if you research the ascension slot tech).

 

[Naelar]

No real time gate, but it's tech gated pretty good. In my cheat runs, I can get all the techs opened up within five years without using the add all techs cheat, but rather, just using tech resource increase.

 

[The Founder]

If you are going for a AI Rebellion, I made a guide for it:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=811896759

Nothing in the techfile indicated a time gating. But the weight modifiers could be pretty terrible. The AI Rebellion is the hardest to trigger Crisis.

 

[Fjolsvid]

If you are going for a AI Rebellion, I made a guide for it:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=811896759

Nothing in the techfile indicated a time gating. But the weight modifiers could be pretty terrible. The AI Rebellion is the hardest to trigger Crisis.

I didn't get any of the crises even once. Guess, that's due to researching jump drives early, so getting Unbidden locked and then never really playing long enough for them to arrive

 

[Pizzarugi]

If you are going for a AI Rebellion, I made a guide for it:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=811896759

Nothing in the techfile indicated a time gating. But the weight modifiers could be pretty terrible. The AI Rebellion is the hardest to trigger Crisis.

I'm not trying to force an AI Rebellion to occur. I'm just super hyped for the synthetic ascension when Utopia launches and I want to make sure I get the technologies squared away in a reasonable time frame.

I do appreciate the guide though, as it provides more insight which I can use to help speed up the process.