The UN Learning Council (ULC) was established in 2066 as a specialized oversight body composed of representatives from member states of the United Nations. The Council was formed following a unanimous UN vote to permit Singularity One to restore access to the Vox Mentis, contingent upon specific regulatory conditions.
The ULC was structured to include three research representatives from each UN member state, with each representative specializing in one of three designated disciplines:
- Science and Technology: Encompassing physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, computer science, and related fields.
- Medicine and Healthcare: Covering disease research, treatment development, medication advancement, public health policy, and healthcare systems management.
- Social Sciences and Humanities: Including psychology, sociology, economics, political science, history, philosophy, and literature.
This tripartite structure was designed to ensure comprehensive oversight of the Vox Mentis across all major domains of human knowledge and inquiry.
Of the 49 UN founding members, 47 provided representatives at the Council's inception. Notable exceptions included:
- United Kingdom: Delayed participation until 2068 due to legislative requirements concerning "the sovereignty of the homeland above world affairs," which complicated the representative selection process.
- United States: Absent until 2069 due to congressional deadlock over confirmation of proposed representatives. The first U.S. position filled was that of Science and Technology Conduit by Major Sandra Marquez of the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). The Medicine and Healthcare Conduit position was subsequently filled in 2070.
The primary mandate of the ULC was to regulate human interaction with the Vox Mentis following its reactivation. The Council's formation represented a compromise between those who advocated for unrestricted access to the artificial intelligence network and those who sought stricter controls over its capabilities and influence.
The Council's core responsibility was to ensure that all communications with the Vox Mentis were documented and made available exclusively to authorized UN research programs, thereby maintaining transparency while limiting direct access to prevent potential misuse or manipulation.
The establishment of the ULC marked a pivotal moment in humanity's relationship with advanced artificial intelligence. By creating a multinational oversight body with representatives from diverse disciplines, the United Nations sought to balance the transformative potential of the Vox Mentis with appropriate safeguards and regulatory frameworks.
The Council's formation also represented one of the most significant examples of international cooperation in the pre-Corporate Era, establishing precedents for global governance of advanced technologies that would influence subsequent institutional developments.
"As you traverse the tapestry of existence, please remember: each life is a story, and together, you compose the grand epic of your existence in the cosmos."
— Vov Mentis (Response 2346-2001-MK3)
Vox Mentis
a collection of fourteen autonomous AIs, interlinked by a neural network, with each AI studying a specific aspect of knowledge such as Mathematics, Social Sciences, Heath and Medicine, etc. The Vox Mentis grows and learns on its own by collecting data throughout the known universe. The Vox Mentis and humans exist independently for the most part; with humanity frequently using the Vox Mentis as an adviser and guide. (learn more)
