{{Article|p1|p2}}
{{Portal Cleanup}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{Conjecture}}
{{Spoiler}}
{{Location Infobox
|image3 = FileWheatley finale lair.jpg|250px
|image2 = FileP2 Central AI chamber.jpg|250px
|image = FileEscape 020029.jpg|250px
|name = Central AI Chamber
|constructed =
|destroyed =
|location = Aperture Science Enrichment Center
|builder =
* Aperture Science technicians (''Portal'')
* GLaDOS (''Portal 2'')
* Wheatley (''Portal 2'')
|era =
* ''Portal''
* ''Portal 2''
|affiliation = Aperture Science
|maps =
* escape_02
*background2 (''Portal'')
* sp_a1_wakeup
* sp_a2_core
* sp_a4_finale4 (''Portal 2'')
|designer =
|hidei =
|hideu =
|hideg =
}}
The '''Central AI Chamber''',"FileSignage 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 the position; however, he was extremely ignorant, and 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 Sentry was kept, seemingly for security, and numerous monitor screens line the walls and encircle GLaDOS.
FileGlados 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 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.
Although the remains of GLaDOS' body parts were primarily scattered around the parking lot in front of a barely-conscious Chell, it is unknown whether this was a non-canonical appearance as, given her initial appearance in ''Portal 2'', after the explosion her body would have had to have fallen back into the chamber. Alternatively, it's possible that the Party Escort Bot dragged these components back into the facility, as they were of major importance and a security breach if left in the open.
=== ''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|Announcer from detecting the presence of a substitute core.
FileGlados new lair.jpg|200px|thumb|right|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 (it is unknown wether GLaDOS did these renovations to keep it from collapsing, or if the chamber DID collapse and GLaDOS rebuilt it completely). 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 (or they may have survived the events of Portal and GLaDOS was never aware of either of them). 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 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.
== 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|panels beneath him. This is proven when GLaDOS and Chell were pulled by the Core Transfer maintenance arms after Wheatley was disposed of.
*During the second visit to the chamber in Portal 2, the rocket sentry hatch from Portal is clearly visible between 2 small sets of stairs leading up to the Stalemate resolution button. However the hatch is never seen in use.
== Behind the scenes ==
* According to concept art of ''Portal 2'', the player was originally meant to enter the chamber through the catwalks surrounding it.FilePortal 2 PotatoFoolsDay ARG Ruined Enrichment Center.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.
== Gallery ==
===''Portal''===
==== Concept art ====
FileAperture room concept.jpg|Concept art for the lobby.
FileGlados room concept.jpg|Ditto, with the four pillars numbered.
FileGlados concept2.jpg
FileGlados concept1.jpg
==== Screenshots ====
FileGlados chamber outside.jpg|GLaDOS' chamber seen from the outside.
FileCatwalks glados.jpg|Numerous catwalks seen nearby GLaDOS' chamber.
FileGlados chamber lobby.jpg|The lobby of GLaDOS' chamber.
FileGlados room fizzler.jpg|The Aperture Science Material Emancipation Grill|Material Emancipation Grill in the room's entrance.
FileEscape 020000.jpg|Aperture Science Red Phone in the lobby of GLaDOS' chamber.
FileGLaDOS Central AI Chamber Portal.jpg|GLaDOS as seen in the Central AI Chamber.
FileGlados bunker.jpg|The bunker housing the Aperture Science Emergency Intelligence Incinerator|incinerator button is found.
FileGlados chamber incinerator.jpg|The Emergency Intelligence Incinerator.
FileNeurotoxins countdown.jpg|The wikipediaNeurotoxin|neurotoxin flooding the chamber against the countdown.
FileGlados destroy1.jpg|GLaDOS ascends while being destroyed.
FileGlados destroy2.jpg|Ditto.
FileGlados destroy3.jpg|Ditto.
===''Portal 2''===
==== Pre-release ====
===== Concept art =====
FileCentral AI Chamber Concept Art Portal 2.jpg|Wrecked Central AI generators.
FileChell facing glados concept.jpg|Chell standing before a lifeless GLaDOS.
FileChell jungle.jpg|Ditto.
FileGlados outside jungle2.jpg|A booted up GLaDOS as seen through a portal.
FileSongs to test by 1 full.jpg|Album art for ''Portal 2 Songs To Test By'', featuring a rebooted GLaDOS.
FilePortal 2 PotatoFoolsDay ARG Chell In Ruined Facility Concept Art.jpg|Ruins of the chamber.
===== Screenshots =====
FileGlados meet again talk.jpg|Early Central AI Chamber.
FileGlados outside jungle.jpg|Ditto.
==== Retail ====
===== Screenshots =====
FileGlados chamber ruined.jpg|Exterior of GLaDOS' ruined chamber.
FileGlados destruction.jpg|A lifeless GLaDOS in the ruins of the chamber.
FileMain breaker room.jpg|The main breaker room, hidden beneath the chamber.
FileWheatley cracking glados.jpg|Wheatley attached to the Aperture Science Core Input Receptacle|Core Input Receptacle and accidentally powering up GLaDOS.
FileGlados_after_awakening.jpg|GLaDOS after awakening in her ruined chamber.
FileGlados awakens.jpg|GLaDOS grabbing Chell and Wheatley with mobile pincers.
FileP2 Central AI chamber.jpg|The reconstructed chamber as seen in the middle of the game.
FileChell facing GLaDOS in Central AI Chamber Portal.jpg|Chell facing GLaDOS in the latter's reconstructed chamber.
FileGlados neurotoxin tube.jpg|A tube is lowered as an attempt to poison Chell with neurotoxin.
FileGlados wheatley tubes.jpg|Wheatley rolling into the neurotoxin ventilation tubes.
FileStalemate resolution annex.jpg|Stalemate Resolution Annex unveiling itself.
FileGlados_core_transfer.jpg|GLaDOS during her forced core transfer procedure.
FileWheatley_finale_lair.jpg|Wheatley in his configuration of the Central AI Chamber.
FileNeurotoxins_countdown_wheatley.jpg|Wheatley deploying neurotoxin into his version of the chamber.
FilePortal 2 Boss Fight Bomb1.jpg|Wheatley throwing the Aperture Science Bombs.
FileGlados core retransfer.jpg|GLaDOS dragged back to her body in Wheatley's configuration of the room.
FileGlados ending monologue.jpg|GLaDOS during the ending monologue.
==== Game files ====
FileSignage you are here01.png|The unused Central AI Chamber signage.
== List of appearances ==
* ''Portal'' {{1st}}
* ''Portal 2 Lab Rat''
* ''Portal 2'' {{C|Single-player campaign only}}
* ''The Final Hours of Portal 2''
== References ==
{{Imagecat|Central AI Chamber images}}
{{Reflist}}
{{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=Turret Opera}}
{{Locations}}
{{Aperture}}
CategoryPortalCategoryPortal 2CategoryAperture Science locationsCategoryLocations
