Source: https://combineoverwiki.net/wiki/Central_AI_Chamber
Archived: 2026-11-02 (the page's wikitext, through the wiki's API)
{{Article|p1|p2}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Image}}
{{Location Infobox
|image3 = [[File:Wheatley finale lair.jpg|250px]]
|image2 = [[File:P2 Central AI chamber.jpg|250px]]
|image = [[File:Escape 020029.jpg|250px]]
|name = Central AI Chamber
|constructed =
|destroyed =
|location = [[Aperture Science Enrichment Center]]
|builder =
escape_02background2 (''Portal'')sp_a1_wakeupsp_a2_coresp_a4_finale4 (''Portal 2'')The '''Central AI Chamber''',"[[:File:Signage you are here01.png|signage you are here01.vtf]]" to "signage_you_are_here05.vtf" in the ''Portal 2'' game files a setting for many major events in ''[[Portal]]'' and ''[[Portal 2]]'', is a large bay that houses a body for the Central [[Aperture Science Personality Construct|Core]] to manage most of the [[Aperture Science]] [[Aperture Science Enrichment Center|Enrichment Center]].
Throughout the series, [[GLaDOS]] controls many aspects of the Enrichment Center through her status as the Central AI. In the climax of ''Portal 2'', [[Wheatley]] took over and due to his ignorance, he nearly caused the facility to explode.
== Overview ==
=== ''[[Portal]]'' ===
The room was a large octagonal chamber in the center of the Enrichment Center, in which GLaDOS was stored while suspended from the ceiling. In the small lobby area, the Aperture Science Red Phone is located next to several computers. Under a concealed door, a [[Rocket Turret]] was kept, seemingly for security, and numerous monitor screens line the walls and encircle GLaDOS.
[[File:Glados chamber lobby.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Lobby of the AI chamber in ''Portal''.]]
Near the climax of ''[[Portal]]'', [[Chell]] escapes [[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal)|GLaDOS' testing tracks]] and makes her way to the core room. Upon finally reaching the chamber, GLaDOS continues lying about having tried to kill her, and pretends to have accidentally dropped the [[Aperture Science Personality Construct#Morality Core|Morality Core]] onto the ground. Chell promptly disposes of this core into a nearby [[Aperture Science Emergency Intelligence Incinerator|incinerator]], causing GLaDOS to reveal that doing so frees her from the restrictions implanted on her to prevent usage of neurotoxin in the facility. Chell eventually defeats her by disposing all of her cores and killing her.
=== ''[[Portal 2]]'' ===
The chamber has been heavily damaged due to the climax of ''[[Portal]]'', and is almost entirely in ruins. GLaDOS' remains are scattered around the room. After [[Wheatley]] accidentally reactivates her through the Main Breaker Room, GLaDOS disposes of him by crushing and tossing him aside, possibly to avoid the [[Aperture Science Announcement System]] from detecting the presence of a substitute core.
[[File:Glados new lair.jpg|200px|thumb|left|GLaDOS in the reconstructed chamber.]]
When Chell returns by Wheatley's assistance to the room at the midpoint of the game, the room has been completely reconstructed in a form bearing little resemblance to the original chamber created by Aperture staff. Despite this, it appears protocol has forced GLaDOS to retain specific elements of the chamber as part of design, including a Core Transfer Hatch and a Stalemate Resolution Annex. Via Core Transfer, GLaDOS' core is removed from her body and replaced with Wheatley's, giving him control of the facility. The power almost immediately takes over Wheatley, prompting him to transfer GLaDOS' core into a potato battery and plunge both her and Chell into the depths of the facility.
The chamber is witnessed again at the end of the game upon Chell and GLaDOS' return to the upper structure and completion of several tests composed by Wheatley. Since the last visit, Chell has inadvertently sent pumps of [[Mobility Gels]] up into the new facility, which she witnesses are being pumped under the room, along with [[Aperture Science Bomb|bombs]]. It also appears Wheatley has decided to raise the room closer to the surface. Eventually, Wheatley is defeated by the duo and GLaDOS manages to have the previously hidden Core Transfer Hatch plug her back into her body.
When Chell awakes after losing consciousness, the room is shown to have been reverted back to its previous form and location by GLaDOS, having been sunken back down deeper into the facility. The length of Chell's elevator ride up to the surface shows just how far down the room has moved, although not to any exact unit.
==Related Achievements==
{|class=wikitable style="vertical-align:center;" width=50%
|-
!colspan="2" style="text-align:left"|''[[Portal 2 Achievements and Trophies|Portal 2]]''
|-
|rowspan=2 width=64px|[[File:STALEMATE ASSOCIATE.jpg]]
!style="text-align:left"|Stalemate Associate (15G)
|-
| ''Press the button!'' |
|---|
| } |
== Behind the scenes ==
According to concept art of ''[[Portal 2]]'', the player was originally meant to enter the chamber through the catwalks surrounding it.[[:File:Potato 79.jpg|Original ''Portal 2'' chamber entrance concept]] However, they were completely removed at some point in development in favor of reusing the original entrance.
There are several unused textures within the game files of ''Portal 2'' that suggests there were originally going to be various signage that informs the player that they are approaching the Central A.I. chamber.
There are actually two AI chambers. The first houses GLaDOS, whilst the second lay dormant in the bowels of the facility until the events of the [[Cooperative Testing Courses|Cooperative Testing Course]] - "Art Therapy". It contains the prototype chassis for GLaDOS.
== Trivia ==
Despite the fact that the white Core Transfer Hatch was never seen in the first ''[[Portal]]'', it might be safe to assume that the hatch is a [[retcon]], and therefore technically had always existed underneath GLaDOS. In ''[[Portal 2]]'', the only reason the hatch was not seen was due to it being covered in rust and various debris.
Although the Core Transfer Hatch is never directly seen in Wheatley's configuration of the room, it is proven to have been hidden by the [[Aperture Science Panel|panel]]s beneath him. This is proven when GLaDOS and Chell were pulled by the Core Transfer maintenance arms after Wheatley was disposed of.
While going through the hallway to the Central AI Chamber in ''[[The Courtesy Call]]'', the hallway is noticeably shorter than its appearance in ''Portal'', having the projector room that mentioned [[Black Mesa (corporation)|Black Mesa]] removed.
== Gallery ==
===''Portal''===
==== Concept art ====
File:Aperture room concept.jpg|Concept art for the lobby.
File:Glados room concept.jpg|Ditto, with the four pillars numbered.
File:Glados room concept2.png|Alternative Version.
File:Glados room concept3.png|Ditto.
File:AI Chamber computers.png|Concept art of computers, which can be seen in previous concept art.
File:Glados concept2.jpg
File:Glados concept1.jpg
==== Screenshots ====
File:Glados chamber outside.jpg|GLaDOS' chamber seen from the outside.
File:Catwalks glados.jpg|Numerous catwalks seen nearby GLaDOS' chamber.
File:Glados chamber lobby.jpg|The lobby of GLaDOS' chamber.
File:Glados room fizzler.jpg|The [[Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grill|Material Emancipation Grill]] in the room's entrance.
File:Escape 020000.jpg|Aperture Science Red Phone in the lobby of GLaDOS' chamber.
File:Aperture Science Red Phone.jpg|Aperture Science Red Phone model.
File:Portal-lab phone.png|Texture of unused white skin of phone.
File:Escape 020028.jpg|GLaDOS as seen in the Central AI Chamber.
File:Glados stairs.jpg|Model of the stairs located right under GLaDOS.
File:Glados bunker.jpg|The bunker housing the [[Aperture Science Emergency Intelligence Incinerator|incinerator]] button is found.
File:Glados chamber incinerator.jpg|The Emergency Intelligence Incinerator.
File:Neurotoxins countdown.jpg|The [[wikipedia:Neurotoxin|neurotoxin]] flooding the chamber against the countdown.
File:Glados destroy1.jpg|GLaDOS ascends while being destroyed.
File:Glados destroy2.jpg|Ditto.
File:Glados destroy3.jpg|Ditto.
===''Portal 2''===
==== Pre-release ====
===== Concept art =====
File:1298903417 3.jpg|Wrecked Central AI generators.
File:1298903417 3 a.jpg|Ditto, with Chell.
File:Chell facing glados concept.jpg|[[Chell]] standing before a lifeless GLaDOS.
File:Chell jungle.jpg|Ditto.
File:Glados outside jungle2.jpg|A booted up GLaDOS as seen through a portal.
File:Songs to test by 1 full.jpg|After reboot.
File:Potato 08.jpg|Ruins of the chamber.
File:Wheatdos turrets.jpg|WheatDOS defending himself with flame-throwing turrets during an early version of the final showdown.
File:Wheatley battle concept5.jpg|Ditto, without flames.
File:Wheatley battle concept3.png|Ditto.
File:Wheatley battle concept6.jpg|Ditto.
File:Wheatley battle concept7.jpg|Ditto, without turret.
File:Wheatley battle concept8.jpg|Ditto.
File:Wheatley battle concept9.jpg|Ditto.
File:Wheatley fight diagram.jpg|The first diagram created by Phil Co for the final battle with Wheatley.
===== Screenshots =====
File:Glados meet again talk.jpg|The Central AI Chamber in ruins.
File:Glados outside jungle.jpg|Ditto.
File:Sp sabotage glados 04.jpg|An early mockup of the stalemate button used to replace Glados with Wheatley..
File:Sp wheatley chamber.jpg|Early prototype of Wheatley's version of the Central AI Chamber.
File:Sp a4 finale4 01.jpg|Ditto.
==== Retail ====
===== Screenshots =====
File:Glados chamber ruined.jpg|Exterior of GLaDOS' ruined chamber.
File:Glados destruction.jpg|A lifeless GLaDOS in the ruins of the chamber.
File:Main breaker room.jpg|The main breaker room, hidden beneath the chamber.
File:Wheatley cracking glados.jpg|[[Wheatley]] attached to the [[Aperture Science Core Input Receptacle|Core Input Receptacle]] and accidentally powering up GLaDOS.
File:Glados_after_awakening.jpg|GLaDOS after awakening in her ruined chamber.
File:Glados awakens.jpg|GLaDOS grabbing Chell and Wheatley with mobile pincers.
File:P2 Central AI chamber.jpg|The reconstructed chamber as seen in the middle of the game.
File:2011-05-05 00009.jpg|Chell facing GLaDOS in the latter's reconstructed chamber.
File:Glados neurotoxin tube.jpg|A tube is lowered as an attempt to poison Chell with neurotoxin.
File:Glados wheatley tubes.jpg|Wheatley rolling into the neurotoxin ventilation tubes.
File:Stalemate resolution annex.jpg|Stalemate Resolution Annex unveiling itself.
File:Glados_core_transfer.jpg|GLaDOS during her forced core transfer procedure.
File:Wheatley_finale_lair.jpg|Wheatley in his configuration of the Central AI Chamber.
File:Neurotoxins_countdown_wheatley.jpg|Wheatley deploying neurotoxin into his version of the chamber.
File:Portal 2 Boss Fight Bomb1.jpg|Wheatley throwing the [[Aperture Science Bomb]]s.
File:Glados core retransfer.jpg|GLaDOS dragged back to her body in Wheatley's configuration of the room.
File:Glados ending monologue.jpg|GLaDOS during the ending monologue.
File:Old glados chassis.jpg|GLaDOS' original prototype chassis in an older Central AI Chamber, as seen in ''Peer Review''.
==== Game files ====
File:Signage you are here01.png|The unused Central AI Chamber signage.
== List of appearances ==
===Main games===
== References ==
{{Imagecat|Central AI Chamber images}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal]]'' journey
|before=[[Incinerator Room]]
|after=[[Aperture Science Extended Relaxation Center]] (''Portal 2'')
}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal 2]]'' journey (1)
|before=[[GLaDOS' testing track (Portal)]]
|after=[[Incinerator Room]]
}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal 2]]'' journey (2)
|before=[[Neurotoxin Generator]]
|after=[[Test Shaft 09]]
}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal 2]]'' journey (3)
|before=[[Wheatley's testing track]]
|after=[[Moon]]
}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal 2]]'' journey (4)
|before=[[Moon]]
|after=N/A (Outside)
}}
{{Succession
|title=''[[Portal 2]]'' co-op journey
|before=Section N Robotic Associate Construction Annex
|after=N/A
}}
{{Locations}}
[[Category:Portal]]
[[Category:Portal 2]]
[[Category:Aperture Science locations]]
[[Category:Locations]]