I disagree with the idea of any evil overtone from GERTY, it’s another take on the way in which an AI deals with contradictions in its programming. In 2001 HAL was programmed to complete the mission unknown to Bowman and Poole (and about which they were not to be told). This need for secrecy and the completion of the mission means that when he learns that Poole intends they should disconnect his higher brain functions he must take steps to ensure the success of the mission. Rain is dispassionate in his intonation, for HAL the concepts of good and evil are irrelevant, there is only the mission and its completion.

Gerty on the other hand has as his most primary underlying directive, ensuring the wellbeing of the Sam clone. This overrules the programming which insists that the clone not know he is a clone, but only after the fact is pushed to the fore.

My own favourite game AIs are the ones in Deus Ex. Icarus, Daedalus and Helios. All male one must note. (there was a 4th AI but the moon mission was cut from the game) and they might well have been female. Icarus also wins big points for scary voice. The first time that Icarus comes through the interlink while you’re negotiating a radioactive room and greezel pit had me wet myself a little bit.

“I NOW HAVE ACCESS TO ALL YOUR SYSTEMS.”

Frightening.

I loved Glados in Portal (I really must get round to playing Portal 2) but she’s a very different, much more directly active and controlling entity than any of the above male AI. Does Cortana go the same way in Halo? I didn’t much like Halo and never played it through.