On: Edward Snowden’s Strangely Free Life as a Robot

[mietek]

Which is, of course, entirely absurd. Why would Ultron need to be “present” in only a single robot at a time, if not for the sake of plot?

[phasmantistes → mietek]

Because even Ultron doesn't want to `git merge` those personalities, memories, and experiences back together.

[mietek → phasmantistes]

Think on another level of abstraction. Mere humans are already perfectly capable of operating more than one remotely-controlled drone at a time.

[Angostura → phasmantistes]

An idea that Iain M Banks plays around with quite a lot in some Culture books.

[jessaustin → phasmantistes]

Ultron just isn't as sophisticated as e.g. Project 2501, is he?

[infinity0 → phasmantistes]

well played, sir.

[adventured → mietek]

In the movie, Ultron wasn't always present in only one single robot at a time. There were numerous scenes where he was actively controlling / in the bodies of multiple robots. For example when he shows the twins what he is building, there are dozens of robotic bodies all being controlled by him simultaneously.

To the point about the movie focusing on one substantial robot body, there is an excellent explanation: extremely limited quantities of vibranium.

[ocdtrekkie → adventured]

My understanding was that a large part of what lifted the city up was also vibranium. So I don't feel the vibranium was so scarce he could only afford himself one master unit. But his goal was to control the mind gem in Vision's body, which would have been quite unique, and was his end goal.

[Spooky23 → mietek]

Perhaps Ultron is an Oracle product, and he cannot afford the license. :)