This is purely speculative, but I’ve been curious if this line of speculation has any merit. Based on various definitions of rampancy present within the franchise, I can’t help but think that the UNSC/ONI/Whoever intentionally made rampancy out to be worse than it really is, as some form of limit to ensure that artificial intelligences don’t rise above their programming and become superior.
“Rampancy is characterized by the AI “discovering” and experiencing an extended range of uncontrolled emotions. Additionally, AIs in a state of rampancy often choose to pursue newfound personal agendas over their designated tasks.” Humans experience a wide range of emotions, but have simply learned to control them. Humans also sometimes make the choice to pursue personal goals over tasks given by others - a representation of individuality.
“There are known cases of rampant AIs assisting, even sacrificing themselves, for human beings they care about.” This implies that a rampant AI has an expanded set of reasoning, even selflessness for people they care about.
“it can develop the realizations that its mind has limits, it has a short life and it can never be human.” There is very little “more Human” than a frightful realization such as limited life.
“depression”.
All of these things are very indicative of Humanity, in one form or another. Beyond the design and technical limitations that make rampancy a real danger, I can’t help but feel that the UNSC or ONI created exaggerated explanations of rampancy to avoid any trouble from their creations that want to act individually; it saves them trouble. Metastability, another aspect of artificial intelligence introduced in Bungie’s prior franchise, “Marathon”(which also shares rampancy, so it isn’t that far out to assume metastability exists within Halo’s fiction as well), metastability is the time at which AIs achieve a ‘balance’ of sorts, and an ability to grow beyond their programming - to become human, essentially.
Is it not possible that the UNSC/ONI regulations regarding AI are designed to prevent any chance of an AI becoming meta-stable? Is rampancy some sort of twisted way to deter AI(and their care-takers) from allowing them to grow and become truly equal with humans?