The minds are definitely alive: in 'Excession', one such General Systems Vehicles, the 'Sleeper Service', is the main character. And a very interesting character indeed. Great book!
"I am not an animal brain, I am not even some attempt to produce an AI through software running on a computer. I am a Culture Mind. We are close to gods, and on the far side.
We are quicker; we live faster and more completely than you do, with so many more senses, such a greater store of memories and at such a fine level of detail. We die more slowly, and we die more completely, too."
