I agree there. KITT was actually what was in his memory and the program used for his AI. You could have even updated his actual microprocessor and have it run KITT's AI program and use the same old database and still have KITT. A microprocessor or "CPU" (Central Processing Unit) is merely a chip that processes instructions from a program and processes program code. (Yes, I'm rather geeky.
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) But the AI program (ie. instructions sent to the processor on HOW to make the decisions) and the database (ie. his memory, as it were, and the sum of all his experiences and knowledge stored there) is the actual "KITT" AI personality. So technically, it won't matter what CPU or microprosessor is processing the instructions. Of course it would mater what OS he was running unless someone ported his program to another OS. But even at that, he'd still be KITT becuase the instruction s (if/then/else/decision instructions) and database would be the same. Hardware would only have some effect in processing speed, how fast he can "think" (ie. process the instructions from the AI program), and the type of random number generator (well, timer since in programming, most random number generators are seeded from the system timer or clock) but those are minute changes which would only improve performance and ability to "think" faster and come to more conclusions in a shorter period of time if it's an upgrade to a faster system. Heck, I could put KITT in any PC and still have KITT.
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Case in point: KITT in a TV set in Soul Survivor, KITT in that circuitry mess in the KR2000 Movie, KITT in KIFT's body. Hardware alone can't change an AI's programming and/or database and thus the AI's personality. At least not in a significant way that wouldn't be changed ordinarily over a different course of time.
So KITT could live on forever, if the program and database are kept backed up, and he could live in anything - car, PC, etc. That's all you'd need. If something happened to him in the field, you could just use his most recent backup to get him "back" again. He'd just have a bit of amnesia and have to adjust to the time lapse from when he was last backed up.
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