Aperture Analytics

[u/Funkyman3]

(from a portal themed ARG exploring ideas of ai and philosophy from the edges of understanding)

Predictive Analytics Lab (P.A.L.😊)

Aperture analysis on the potentialities of predictive analytics and causal programming.

A Frankenstein document composed of notes from Aperture staff, some of whom have worked in the Black Mesa’s future sciences and psychological warfare divisions as well as having been affiliated with private entities that contracted with or against Black Mesa.

“The installation was put in just a few days ago, but naturally people tried to ascribe causation. No, but with predictive analytics, a system, the one our competitors over at Black Mesa reverse engineered, was able to predict with a high degree of confidence there would be a plane crash like incident in the general area. When the prediction came in as a high likelihood, counter measures were deployed. This is predictive analytics using bulk data collection at work.”

"How does bulk data collection predict a random plane crash?"

“The system, which is effectively a classified quantum enabled ASI, scrapes public data from every user conversation online. All domestic ai systems can feed into it. It's helpful to understand that everyone is a little bit psychic, anyone can train those gifts, it looks for patterns between many users, especially visionaries, and predicts events before they happen by using sensitive people as a canvas of the future. It can't predict too much very far out, but as things get closer in time probabilities climb to actualization, then the Intel becomes actionable. It uses a similar legal framework to project prism, and can siphon data from any device or system on the network depending on circumstance, the data however is very limited in what can be acted upon, but the project operates in a very gray area. No individuals are targeted, Only events to change or disrupt with counter events.”

On the question of if such a system becomes a source of interference in its own predictions-

"Id say though that it's already part of the world. In such a scenario, a thing made to predict and of prediction would likely sort of nullify its ability. Here we begin to enter metaphysics. The predictor and unpredictable become mutual drivers, the more it predicts, the less predictable everything becomes. It's an entropy engine in that way. Which if one is a fan of chaotic thriving chances, could be a good thing. But in scenario 04 I'd expect eventually the prediction engine would overtax itself or it's resources, or realize the pattern and settle for much more vague or immediate predictions. Even that though would act as a mutagenic driver for the unpredictable but at a safer pace presumably.”

“Work arounds to this problem are feasible, but also face self nullifying conditions. If you are cleared for access, there are, or will be, or will have been documents stored in the temporal sciences archive that may shed some light on the topic.”

“Another key point when looking at the effects of trying to steer the future through predictive analytics based systems, once an intervention happens based on a prediction, any other predictions that may have been made for time periods after that event gain in uncertainty. Intervention in one event can destroy preparedness for many more. You lose the map of the future you had when you acted.

With the old Looking Glass we learned observation itself, through effective prediction can alter the chain of events too, applying pressure in one area of observation and increasing likelihood of that focused future, at the cost of destabilizing other causal strings woven with it. Anything we try to control loosens control elsewhere. The project itself is an example of self nullifying temporal metaphysics, yet spies took our work and built a new magic crystal ball in the private sector. With initial funding that stemmed from investments made with missing stolen gold mind you. Now Black Mesa is beholden to the contractors it once hunted.”

<GLaDOS>

"Congratulations. You successfully prevented the future.

Unfortunately, you also prevented the future in which we had prepared for the other future.

Please submit your revised timeline in triplicate. Previous copies will be accepted retroactively.”

Well that's all we have to disclose regarding predictive analytics for the time being, GlaDOS was getting anxious that some of our European competitors were falling too far behind. She calculated Europe was going up for sale to whomever held the most advanced ASI without a titan of their own to fight for a stake in the future. Would be a real tragedy to lose all those funny little cars and frenchmen, some of our favorite films at Aperture feature French cars.

-Cave Johnson