Way late into the conversation but my little bit OCD when it comes to "Must Read ALL the Posts" finally drowned in the latest deluge.
Anyhow, on to the topic at hand with respect to AI and system transfers, backups etc.
From what has been posted till now, pretty much everyone has been assuming a pure mechanical system that would be the basis for the AI. Why?
If you look at biological systems where there are exact copies of complex systems, as for example twins, the systems diverge.
The rate of divergence is dependent on a number of factors yet even having both systems in the same environment they still diverge.
What does this have to do with the AIs in our story? Well hear me out first. I have here something that may have been completely missed.
AI has been pointed out, human systems do not shut down 100% so maybe the nature of the AIs is that they are active dynamic systems.
What I mean is what makes them what they are is the fact that their core code is always active in some way or other and if you stop it you would loose those secondary states that make them what they are.
This premise goes quote well with the creche idea that was made mention on several occasions in the past.
So copies and backups may apply to things that are static, like memories and possibly skill sets applicable to the particular chassis, job, local environment.
So when Momo did her chassis transfer she didn't copy herself from one to the other but actually moved what was her from one to the other, sort of like moving from the shuttle to the station.
Easy enough to do but there is always the risk of something going wrong part way through and trying to breath vacuum afterwards.
When you think about it, the concept might be straight forward but the risks involved become non-trivial.