Constructs, Magic, and Artificial Intelligence

[Foghammer]

How would you use existing spells or other mechanics to create an artificial intelligence construct? I'm looking to have a character create a stationary object, like an arcane matrix or lattice, that generates what is essentially an intelligent computer. I figure it could use certain spells at-will (ghost sound, silent image, etc) to generate an interface construct (ala Cortana).

Would intelligent item construction fit the bill here? If so, how would you do it?

The purpose of the thing is to have a super-intelligent adviser for the nobility, but it's mostly a mental exercise here. I'm looking for different angles that I might not consider, things that may help this concept. I also want to have answers for my players; some of them are prone to play highly inquisitive characters.

[Movin]

To put it in perspective the way that Halo makes their "Smart" AI systems is taking a cloned brain of a human and scanning it into a high power computer rendering with a method that is violently destructive to the brain used.
Cortona for example is a brain clone of Dr. Catherine Elizabeth Halsey the creator of the Spartan program.

Using this same method in DnD would essentially be binding a willing(or unwilling*Muah*) Soul into a specific object for the express purpose of obtaining and distributing knowledge, very similar to how Bob the skull of the Harry Dresden books works.

The old way of building a computer in 3.5 was animating thousands of 1/8th HD rats as zombies and commanding each one to lift or lower their tail in response to stimuli. A crude binary system resulting
The construction would require a hollowed out mountain to store all the rats but with enough of them you could make a hyper intelligent AI out of rat corpses.

A simplistic answer would be for someone with balls of plutonium to go and drop a Helm of Opposing alignment onto an Elder brain. Vast intelligent hive mind goes from furthering the goals of his alien masters to furthering the cause of good in opposition to them. You would need some form of controls on it or even doing good things the mind would eventually pull a SKYNET.

Something like a crypt of scholars who sacrifice themselves on an altar of magic in order to feed a bound godling of knowledge might make for some fun times. A sagacious soul each year it takes or the cradling cage bends and breaks. Some big nasty critter like a spawn of Yog-Sogoth or something else that only answers the questions of foolish mortals because it pleases it, some day it shall rise and all will perish as it opens a gate for its dread progenitor.

Personally I like the mountain full of rats just for the look on peoples faces when they discover that the device they rely on for knowledge is composed of rotten rats animated by evil power. It is also just so zany I could see some crazed gnome coming up with it and that amuses me.

[VRMH]

You can fake it, by having a cadre of sages pretend their answers come from some mysterious device instead of from hard work in the library.

Another option is a series of intelligent items, each capable of one Divination spell and then one more item - or a person - to aggregate the results.

[Knight Magenta]

I want to second the Zomb-puter :)

Though construct creation rules are poorly defined in PF, you can look at the clockwork creature template for inspiration.

You can also look at the Lifespark construct.