Oh, Yeah,

Carin - Well, THAT must suck! My sympathies . . .

Possibly the method has yet to be invented.

Some you don't even know yourself until it happens. It's scary when that happens and you're driving. Also, you can accidentally trigger yourself, like I just did. Didn't know that was one

Carin Maja Brooks

Bubbles explained back during the Corpse Witch saga that AI consciousness isn't fully understood (even if some things like memories can be manipulated). The importance of the physical hardware on which their minds "run" has come up a couple times (Roko's survival was attributed to extra protection from her "law enforcement package", Corpse Witch showed Faye the "triple reinforced" drives used by robot fighters). Putting those bits together, I'd say it's not possible to simply "back up" an AI mind (Yay possibly excepted, but they seem to be a special case well beyond normal AI technology).

William Cole

Clinton's question seems to come from a lot less objectifying place than Evie's did, even accounting for its being his field of study. Also, Clinton is an existing member of the friend group

Ace

Roko was downloaded to a server after her accident, IIRC, or was her core physically placed there?

Michael Boettger

There might exist after-action reports, as well as any notes that various personnel made, but that isn't going to include interpersonal relationships. One thing that's stood out to me, is that it seems like AIs in QC-verse don't have off-site backups. We've only seen Spookybot even be distributed, but nothing else across multiple bodies or with multiple backups.

Jonathan V

That's what is so frigthening with trigger . Other people can active them at any random conversation, without thinking or knowing about it.

Sarah Buisson

agreed but this is Clinton's field of study. One can't help but think theres a lot of scholastic/intellectual curiosity there. Evie had no shame whereas Clinton will be embarrassed now.

jimbo

Evie was treating Bubs as a case study, whereas Clinton has just asked a fairly natural follow-on question. Not quite the same thing.

Mark

Bubbles would make such an EXCELLENT Murderbot!

Satan

shades of Evie's AI inquiries, (Amanda's girlfriend) https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3656

jimbo

Also this is why Jeph made sure to remind us that Clinton has no chill

Leona

But also, thank you

Leona

Jeph why

Leona

I fully agree that there is nothing in Bub's head left to recover. And Sppokybot most probably searched the worlds knowledge for any leftover information. But thats the problem with an overpowered entity like Spookybot. If there is ever going to be a way, Jeph need to answer "why didn't Spookybot think of it?" (or Station for that matter).

Jan Gampe

The shadow in the bottom right corner engulfing Bubs hits all the feels

JD

Coming up: The tragedy of Bubbels' forgotten, forbidden, doomed relationship with a toaster

Bagge

The problem is simple: Corpse Witch did a thorough job deleting the entire memory sequence. By accident, yes, but when even Spookybot can't get it's hands on them, a reasonable person has to assume that they are gone.

Joseph Bonnar

Can AIs get married? I thought Melon was, but it’s more like friends with benefits.

Miyaa

Since she was designed to be a military asset, wouldn't the military have copied her memories as a " mission log "? If so, then Bubble's past may be sitting on a server somewhere. Sounds like a cooperative mission for Yay, Emily, and Marbear.

Michael Boettger

So, I was thinking about that specific story: Bubs memory has been isolated and encrypted (or she believed so). 1) What can be isolated can be backuped 2) She stated that she can't remember her squad's faces, and they all perished. Maybe a photo or letters to their families will one day find their way to her. Maybe, some can be reconstructed by the hole it left.

Jan Gampe

That's dark

Bagge

Anyone she was with was probably in her squad so... That would be an extra reason to have wanted the memories locked up temperarily.

Jessie Cook

How would he know that question would provoke that response? We don't always know what's going to hurt ahead of time.

Ardent Slacker

Ah, so THAT's what all the theremins are for...

Simon Green

dun dun DAAAA

Alacrity Fitzhugh

Dude has a detachable hand. Who know what his *legs* can do!

#1 - an animatronic vibrating pineapple. #2 - a disembodied voice that appears to come from all directions simultaneously. #3 - a male AI in the same female soldier body as Bubs.

Simon Green

Damn....dark.

Matt

*Clinton backs away slowly*

MikeT

“Anyone been in a car crash before?”

Andrew

And now, awkward attempts by Clinton to change the subject, go:

Andrew

:(

Sleepy John

Oh, ouch.

Bailey Tighe

this whole party is people vibing until they suddenly stop

Wow i didn't think Clinton was flexible enough to fit his entire leg in his mouth but he proved me wrong

Dylan T

Way to hit me in the feels.

Joseph

Dammit. Bubs is married, isn't she?

Wolfger

Have to wonder if there's some connection between Murderbot and Bub!

Walt Donovan

Eh, if they were in that memory, they were probably a member of her former squad. Which means they’re dead.

Thisguy

Oh hell that's a galactic sized seed of doubt in Faye. The potential ex?

Erin Moriarty

I don't think you can blame Clinton. It is, I suppose a fair question. I don't know if it can be approached the same way, say, a mixed-race couple would be, or if it carries the same offense (which, I guess-- in complete ignorance I have to admit-- depends upon the honesty and innocence of the asker) But Bubbles still has that backstory to deal with.

Elf Sternberg

The WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT 😭

Brooke Vibber

DAMN IT CLINTON

Will Weaver

I'll bet Faye knows which of Bub's nerves she likes to have hit AMIRIGHT?

Simon Green

Cue several strips of introspection to come.

Michael Boettger

Amazing expression on Faye's face in the final panel - conveys so much.

David Durant

ENTER BUBBLE'S THREE MOST RECENT EXES, STAGE LEFT.

Leaflemming

The issue isn't who Bub's dated in the past. It's the fact that large parts of her memories are just gone and so she wouldn't even know if she had or not.

Jon

Might as well make that foot you're putting in your mouth mechanical too, Clinton.

... I'm confused. Why would it matter who Bubs dated before?

Verteiron

Poor Clinton! 😥

Jon

NOT Clinton's fault. Shit jut happens.

Shawn K. Younkin

JEPH

That horrible moment when innocent small talk goes bad

Alexander W Couzens

Noooo, Bubs!!

And then the reality nation attack....

Shawn K. Younkin

Clinton, you dork.

EnterTheHero

SMOOTH MOVE, CLINTON

Grace Kieser

Undo!

Adam Friedlander

Oof

Alcaria Swain

everything was going so well

Hope