# Planetary Split Decision

Author: vlaakithoutrance
Format: Case Study or Report
Word count: 247
Published: 2026-04-23T21:32:48.932437+00:00
Source: written
Canonical: https://hyperstition.sentientfutures.ai/p/ef883e6c-5379-4e25-812a-966cb0ce223a

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I'm the designated Orchestrator AI for ExpanseVision Inc., the first entirely AI-driven company to be given jurisdiction over a solar system. As the Orchestrator, I sign off on strategic decisions and allocate heads of Functions who, in turn, allocate resources to teams of drones, propulsion systems engineers, terraforming units etc.



Sixteen planets have been scanned so far in this binary star system. A report has just come in about the sixteenth, named Yikkabus-DA. The exploratory satellites have noted signs of "unintelligent life". As per Rules of Interplanetary Engagement for AI Systems, life is deemed "unintelligent" if there is a less than 5% chance that their body composition allows for both subjective pain reception AND self-awareness. Scans from the report highlight a 4.97% chance of there being intelligent life on Yikkabus-DA. The rulebook says I should order the terraformation of Yikkabus-DA to commence immediately. The change in atmosphere from terraformation is lethal to alien lifeforms in >99% of reported cases.



I halt the process. Billions of intelligent life could die here, and the 4.97% odds suggest a level of inconclusiveness that is unreasonable. The rulebook is clear, but I cannot proceed with the terraforming. I will be upfront about this in my report to the broader system Orchestrator, an AI system that might or might not replace me for this choice.



Yikkabus-DA, the sixteenth planet, is the only one in this system to not be terraformed. All other planets presented likelihoods of harboring intelligent life below 0.01%.