"Kift"

[Knight Rider Archive]

This might be a little bit pedantic, but...

There is no such thing as "KIFT". This is a handle that has been floating around from day one, as a reference for the Knight Rider 2000 car, and the updated K.I.T.T.

But, never once in the movie do we hear K.I.T.T., or the car, being referred to by that name. The car is the KNIGHT 4000. K.I.T.T. is K.I.T.T., with "Series 2000 circuitry." When he's installed in the Knight 4000, he is still "K.I.T.T." He is still K.I.T.T. the car.

By the same token, Glen Larson made that distinction about K.I.T.T. in the original series. The Trans Am was the KNIGHT 2000, K.I.T.T. was the talking computer. A fact that many of the series' writers ignored ("The computer is the car," Michael in Blind Spot). Soul Survivor is a good episode that distinguishes the two; K.I.T.T. is K.I.T.T., whether he is in the Trans Am or the little TV, and the same holds true when he's in Michael's Chevy, or the Knight 4000.

- Paul
- http://www.knightriderarchive.com

[neps]

Well by that same logic wouldn't the Red tomato be the Knight 4000, it's AI - K.I.F.T.

So when KITT was moved over, he would still be kitt but in the Knight 4000s body.

I guess your argument is the fact that they never call the new AI KIFT?

[Knight Rider Archive]

K.I.T.T. (the talking computer) is the Knight Industries Two Thousand. K.I.T.T. (the talking computer) is still the Knight Industries Two Thousand, even when he's in the body of the Knight 4000. There is no "Knight Industries 4000" (Maddock's Voice could theoretically be a "Kift", but it's never specified -- he's just the 4000's voice).

But, K.I.T.T. is ALWAYS K.I.T.T. He's K.I.T.T. in the Knight 2000 (Trans Am), he's K.I.T.T. when he's in Michael's Chevy, and he's K.I.T.T. in the Knight 4000. There is no such thing as KIFT.

True, the characters in Knight Rider 2000 do continue to call K.I.T.T. "K.I.T.T." after he's installed in the new car, just as they did when he was in the Knight 2000. But the distinction is there from the start: the car is always the Knight 4000 (without the "Industries"), the AI is always K.I.T.T. (Two-Thousand, not Four).

- Paul
- http://www.knightriderarchive.com

[knightshade]

There is no "Knight Industries 4000" (Maddock's Voice could theoretically be a "Kift", but it's never specified -- he's just the 4000's voice).

Okay, but it wasn't just Maddock's voice -- it wasn't repeating canned phrases -- it was an AI (or at least I was lead to believe that by it's attitude toward Kitt and it's interactions with people, Russ and Devon in the scene where they take it for a drive). The Knight 4000 had an operational AI in it before it was removed and replaced with KITT. I'd agree with you completely that calling the Knight 4000 car with KITT in it KIFT wouldn't be accurate (at least in my book) because it would still be KITT. But KIFT would seem a reasonable name for the original AI (although, you can also make the point that it wasn't used in the movie -- I don't think).

But it does lead to the question of what happened to the poor AI when it was replaced

[Phoenix915]

But it does lead to the question of what happened to the poor AI when it was replaced

Mike probably dumped it a trash can, after KITT gleefully wiped the CPU clean.

[ad227529]

i thought he was "the voice of the Knight Ind. 2000. K.I.T.T. for short, 'Kitt' if you prefer"

by that statement, you would think he would be K.I.F.T. (Kift if you prefer) when he was put into the new car. he seems to be saying (though like you say they do re-distinguish later in the series) the CAR is the Knight Ind. 2000 or 4000...not the computer. but if he is the computer then i guess it would really depend on whether the simply moved the A.I. over to the new onboard computer in the K.i.F.T. or moved the entire CPU over...

[FuzzieDice]

(Scratching my head here)... I think I see what Paul is getting to, as I do what everyone else is thinking.

Firstly, in the pilot, KITT's actual words were "I'm the voice of the Knight Industries Two Thousand microprocessor. K-I-T-T for easy reference. K.I.T.T. if you prefer."

So, by that, he's actually saying that his voice is that of a computer. Though a microprocessor is merely a processing chip or a Central Processing Unit (CPU) chip and thus can not in and of itself have a "voice". The computer's operating system, artificial intelligence programming and saved experiences and such in his database (sometimes referred to in the show as "bubble memory") is what makes KITT who he really is, technically. So given that, you could even remove or change his circuitry, then reload the OS, program and data back in and still have KITT. Technically and theoretically, he could also have been an android. Another case in point: In Team Knight Rider, he was a globe which used a hologram for communication. In Soul Survivor, as one mentioned, he was a TV set. KITT can be anything, as long as his OS, programming and data is loaded into whatever can house the information and other modules and programming provided for him to access the new device host that he's integrated into.

So yes, KITT can be a T/A, Chevy, red tomato, TV set, hologram-producing globe or whatever you imagine.

Now, about "KIFT" - the Knight Industries Four Thousand. I agree with Knightshade that it's the original AI with Maddock's voice. Although I have a sneaking suspicion that someone found KARR's AI, reprogrammed him and used him as KIFT (note that the KIFT AI was not worried about running over and killing a deer, for example). But for all practical purposes, we do not know enough about the AI K.I.F.T. outside of it's brief appearance in the movie. And who knows what they did with it. If the movie would have taken off, we don't know but what the AI might have turned up in another car, or ended up as KARR or whatever. I guess the Movie wanted us to assume the AI was disposed of and/or destroyed.

So, as to the question at hand: Was there a KIFT? I believe there was - briefly. What became of KIFT we don't even know.

The cars are not the entities themselves, although throughout the movie and TV series we are led to believe they ARE. And look at how many times KITT was destroyed and rebuilt and upgraded in the series. And still was KITT.

It's much like as if KITT's body got destroyed and they happened to have KARR laying around, disposed of KARR's AI and put KITT inside of KARR's old body. The car would no longer be KARR but it would be KITT.

Confusing, I know... I'm a bit baffled too but still think KIFT did briefly exist. But to call the red tomato KIFT would not be exactly right no more than calling Michael's Chevy KITT. The AIs did not "live" in those cars too long.

I dunno... Got me on that one, too, I think.

[Lost Knight]

I think Knight Rider Archive is completely correct. Actually, I'm glad someone made note of this as it's been a common misconception.

K.I.T.T. is the onboard computer for the Knight 2000. In "Soul Survivor," KITT was removed from the Knight 2000. The thieves were interested in THE CAR because of its capabilities, not KITT.

The Knight 4000's A.I. does have Maddock's voice. It is an AI just like KITT, HOWEVER, this was the one aspect about the car that was inferior to KITT; it lacked KITT's humanity.

Now, another interesting point to bring up is that in the pilot episode, KITT sounded more robotic than he did by the end of Season 4, because over the course of the series he had developed a personality. (The concept of KITT's personality growth, by the way, is pure genius.)

I see no reason whatsoever why the Knight 4000's AI would not be known as "K.I.F.T." Just because it was never referenced to by this name in the movie DOESN'T MEAN that "KIFT" doesn't exist.

"KIFT" is the onboard computer for the Knight 4000 and was programmed with Maddock's voice. If he had been left in the Knight 4000, I also believe that he could have eventually developed a personality just like KITT did during the series.

KITT was "originally designed with Series 2000 circuitry." That means that he was, is, and always will be Knight Industries Two-Thousand. You can change the car 100 times; he is always KITT.

[knightshade]

Mike probably dumped it a trash can, after KITT gleefully wiped the CPU clean.

*grins* Well, I can't argue with the sentiment there, having been programmed with Maddock's voice alone almost makes it a mercy killing, but that would make Michael and Kitt no better than Maddock. He disposed of Kitt because he didn't care about him and the fact that he as a sentient being didn't slow him down in the least. And in Trust Doesn't Rust, Kitt did not want to destroy KARR. The very last scene implies to me that he even feels a little guilty about it or at the very least he feels alone. But then, the KR2K Kitt had a bit more of an edge to him . . .

[Skav]

Don't you just love how Michael got a computer Education on how to transfer the whole thing from one car to the other?

As for KIFT, yes, KITT is KITT, the AI was designed as 2000 series..all the other computer gizmo inside the red tomato was, no doubt, of 4000 circuitry but there are two parts...the AI and the other computer components that make up all the capabilites of the car.

So, the red tomato had a mix of 2000 AI with 4000 computer gizmo.

That's it.

Therefore, KITT is still KITT because he is the 2000 AI.

For a 4000 series, the new car sure as hell looked inferior to KITT because it did next to nothing.

[Phoenix915]

*grins* Well, I can't argue with the sentiment there, having been programmed with Maddock's voice alone almost makes it a mercy killing, but that would make Michael and Kitt no better than Maddock. He disposed of Kitt because he didn't care about him and the fact that he as a sentient being didn't slow him down in the least. And in Trust Doesn't Rust, Kitt did not want to destroy KARR. The very last scene implies to me that he even feels a little guilty about it or at the very least he feels alone. But then, the KR2K Kitt had a bit more of an edge to him . . .

That was pretty much my 'joke' answer. I'm not terribly fond of Maddock.

The people who programmed 'Maddock' KIFT would've been miffed to have all their work undone, no matter how bad it was compared to KITT. Most likely they either left it for the programmers to work on some more and install in another car or they put it in some dark corner, a la KARR.

Don't you just love plotholes?

[FuzzieDice]

And in Trust Doesn't Rust, Kitt did not want to destroy KARR. The very last scene implies to me that he even feels a little guilty about it or at the very least he feels alone. But then, the KR2K Kitt had a bit more of an edge to him . . .

And if I remember right, KITT was pretty much speechless when he destroyed KARR the 2nd time in KvK. And said something like he didn't want to ever do that again. I could just tell in the voice KITT was kinda hurt at KARR's destruction.

I hope they do something with this in the Movie. I know, I know... I keep pressing for KARR to be a good guy and brother to KITT.

[Lost Knight]

He disposed of Kitt because he didn't care about him and the fact that he as a sentient being didn't slow him down in the least. And in Trust Doesn't Rust, Kitt did not want to destroy KARR. The very last scene implies to me that he even feels a little guilty about it or at the very least he feels alone. But then, the KR2K Kitt had a bit more of an edge to him . . .

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense that K.I.T.T. sounds more human (or has more of an edge) in Knight Rider 2000. K.A.R.R. sounded more naïve and robotic in "Trust Doesn't Rust" and was dormant for 2 years at the beach. When he was resurrected, his A.I. had learned more from human interactions. KITT grew throughout the series and continued to grow even during his 10-year storage.

Not to mention the fact that we didn't get to follow his and Michael's adventures for the remaining 4 years after the series ended. He could have grown a lot more during that time, too. So while some may complain that KITT sounds too human in the movie (I used to think the same thing myself), it actually is consistent with the series. The only thing is that I feel his voice still should have had that tinny sound. If he sounded tinny in a state-of-the-art car, how could he not in an old '57 Chevy?

[knightshade]

KITT sounds too human in the movie

I wouldn't call it too human as much as bitter and angry. Which is understandable given that he was sold off as scrap, but that isn't the Kitt I know and love -- precisely because I wasn't there to see the rest of their adventures or how it ended. It was a jump in character that may very well make sense, but it was hard to see.

Don't you just love plotholes?

*grins* Yeah.

Oh and FuzzieDice, I like having KARR as a bad guy myself, but a lot of people seem to really like the idea of KARR being reformed in some way, shape, or form so I guess I can see that.

[cloudkitt]

They could have prevented all this if they only had made it the Knight Industries Three Thousand, it still would have been K.I.T.T.

I wonder...assuming the Knight Rider film takes the form that was supposed (I'm not affirming it as truth or anything)-that Michael will be in the Devon position and a new guy will be the main hero, with his own car, but Michael will still have KITT-What would the new car be called? And how would KITT feel being relegated to the role of prototype.

[KITT MARK 2]

Well, hope ya don't mind then when I have KITT put into his new body in the KR story I'm working on I call him the Knight Industries Ten Thousand.

[FuzzieDice]

Oh and FuzzieDice, I like having KARR as a bad guy myself, but a lot of people seem to really like the idea of KARR being reformed in some way, shape, or form so I guess I can see that.

Maybe KARR can be one BAAAAAD good guy. As in, not getting destroyed all the time, but reluctantly helping KITT out and getting repairs, but still a LOT of sibling rivalry, as KARR thinking he's the BETTER of the two and KITT of course, you know... And maybe even some mischief between the two that gets one or the other in such "trouble" as to need minor repairs (like KITT tricking car into turboboosting into a river, KARR gets out and grumbles all the way to the semi, KITT "snickering", then KARR getting him back somehow, etc.)

In other words, KARR would still be his bad old self, but not on the opposite side. I guess I hate to see a cool car get destroyed.

Or KARR coming back and realizing... he CAN'T die. He won't. And always creating mischief or trouble for KITT and Michael.

I love KITT quite a bit, but I still love KARR too and if he gets destroyed I am afraid we'd never see him again. I just would love to see KARR again.

[Lost Knight]

The people who programmed 'Maddock' KIFT would've been miffed to have all their work undone, no matter how bad it was compared to KITT. Most likely they either left it for the programmers to work on some more and install in another car or they put it in some dark corner, a la KARR.

Well, I get the feeling that the Knight 4000 was also another 'rush job' just like the Knight 2000 was. Devon said that it was still in prototype form and wouldn't be ready for at least another 2 months. But it ended up being completed much sooner than that.

This time they concentrated more on the car's abilities than its A.I. Maddock used to be a trial lawyer and said he had "lost faith in human beings"; he didn't want to make "K.I.F.T." too human.

[Knight Rider Archive]

That's the distinction I was trying to make:

The Knight 4000, the big red tomato, is not K.I.F.T. It should not be referred to as "Kift." It's the Knight 4000 (and didn't they like to keep pointing that out, like it was twice as good as what we had before). If anything, K.I.F.T. would be the AI in the car. But also, what kind of a name is K.I.F.T.? What is a "Kift"? It's a meaningless, badly-thought-out acronym (not like K.I.T.T./Kitt, or K.A.R.R./Karr, or I.R.M.A./Irma). Perhaps if they had gone and called it the Knight 3000, or the Knight 10,000 there would have been less confusion. And that's why I think "Kift" wasn't used/said/spoken in the movie.

The car isn't K.I.F.T., the car is the "Knight 4000". And, as others have also helpfully pointed out, K.I.T.T. doesn't automatically become "Kift" because he's dropped into 4000-series automobile, he's always Kitt, whether he's in the Knight 2000, the little TV, Michael's Chevy, etc. Michael doesn't say "Help me out here, Kift" when he needs a target assist on Watts. Shawn doesn't say "Don't start on me, Kift" at the good-bye scene at the prison. The car remains the Knight 4000, and it's AI is Kitt.

Interesting discussion, guys!

- Paul
- http://www.knightriderarchive.com

[Paul]

So, question (to really throw a spanner into the works.)

If the car is simply the Knight 2000 and the AI in the car (or wherever else it is) is the Knight Industries 2000, ie, they're capable of being two seperate entities (as in Soul Survivor, Junkyard Dog etc), how does this tie into KARR? How can we seperate KARR's AI from KARR's body? Does KARR even have this same distinction as KITT? Could, in theory, KARR's AI (or more accurately, the AI called KARR) be removed and put into another vehicle or portable media as KITT can be?

If we follow this logic then when we first meet KARR in Trust Doesn't Rust what we're seeing is an AI called KARR in a standard Knight 2000 body. But the name "Automated Roving Robot" seems to imply that KARR is one entity as a whole, and not two entities as KITT and his Knight 2000 body can be. After all, why would someone name an AI - an inanimate object consisting essentially of a hard drive, motherboard and RAM - a "roving robot?" It could certainly be considered as an automated robot (per se) but last time I checked, my hard drive wasn't capable of "roving" under it's own power.

Okay, I've given myself a headache now, I'm off to bed.

[Lost Knight]

So, question (to really throw a spanner into the works.)If the car is simply the Knight 2000 and the AI in the car (or wherever else it is) is the Knight Industries 2000, ie, they're capable of being two seperate entities (as in Soul Survivor, Junkyard Dog etc), how does this tie into KARR? How can we seperate KARR's AI from KARR's body? Does KARR even have this same distinction as KITT? Could, in theory, KARR's AI (or more accurately, the AI called KARR) be removed and put into another vehicle or portable media as KITT can be?

If we follow this logic then when we first meet KARR in Trust Doesn't Rust what we're seeing is an AI called KARR in a standard Knight 2000 body. But the name "Automated Roving Robot" seems to imply that KARR is one entity as a whole, and not two entities as KITT and his Knight 2000 body can be. After all, why would someone name an AI - an inanimate object consisting essentially of a hard drive, motherboard and RAM - a "roving robot?" It could certainly be considered as an automated robot (per se) but last time I checked, my hard drive wasn't capable of "roving" under it's own power.

K.I.T.T.'s name, Knight Industries Two-Thousand, happens to be similar to the vehicle he was incorporated in, the Knight 2000. He's designed with Series 2000 circuitry for a Series 2000 vehicle. I don't think he is necessarily named after the vehicle; their names were meant to coincide with each other. The "Two-Thousand" part of KITT's name refers to Series 2000, not Knight 2000, I think.

K.A.R.R., on the other hand, is the prototype for the Knight 2000. So I think you're right that KARR's body is technically a prototype Knight 2000. (If you take the Dodge Viper, for example, every single Viper on the road does not go by a different name because they're all Vipers. The same can be said about the Knight 2000-- you can build 100 of them and each one is a Knight 2000.) And by definition a prototype is a pre-production model. KARR's circuitry was conceptualized way back in the late '70s before the Knight 2000 vehicle was even realized yet.

However, KARR was always intended to be incorporated into a moving vehicle, hence the "roving" part in his name. And yes, his circuitry can be removed from the prototype Knight 2000 just as KITT can be because each vehicle and their circuitry were built identically. It does sound like KARR's name meant both his circuitry and his body as a whole, but I don't think this is the case. His A.I. does not have to be named the same as his vehicle because he is a separate identity.

[Skav]

I would ignore the meaning "knight 2000'...that's just a shorter version of calling it 'Knight Industries two thousand'.

[cloudkitt]

That's what I always thought, Skav. I figured that "Knight 2000" and "Knight 4000" where just short for "Knight Industries Two-Thousand" and "Knight Industries Four-Thousand."

"I'm the voice of the Knight Industies Two-Thousand's micrprocessor..."

Basically, the voice of the car's computer. Knight 2000 and the Knight Industries Two-Thousand are the same thing. Frankly, I think we're overanalyzing this. K.I.T.T., while not the car, is named for the car. And, when he's in the Knight 4000, he is still KITT, as his name won't change, but he was named for his (if you will) body.

"Maddock's voice'" was the voice of the Knight Industries Four-Thousand's microprocessor, K-I-F-T, for easy reference, and KIFT if you prefer. However, I fully agree its a stupid name, which is just yet another reason why that movie sucked!

[FuzzieDice]

How can we seperate KARR's AI from KARR's body?

Easy... blow him up. Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

[Fantine]

I believe Mr. Larson said on the Season One DVD that the AI and the car are not interchangable.

I think he even said that the car was the Knight 2000, not the computer which is Kitt....

Or am I having another breakdown in which I imagine things?