Alan Binet also known as username "Binet.A" is the head of the Institute's Robotics division in Fallout 4.
Background
Head of the Robotics division of The Institute, Alan Binet was instrumental in creating third generation synths. He is a talented designer, a must in the Institute's meritocratic environment, and believes in a healthy work/life balance and tries to put his work out of mind when he retires for the day.[1]
Binet fully believes that the synths are potentially sentient beings and has had many arguments over it with his friend and colleague, Max Loken. His impassioned speeches about artificial sentience and machines are a constant feature of Robotics, so much that Loken could write them down from memory. When reminded of the option to trade the Institute for the wasteland, he is quick to remark that he's only trying to broaden the horizons of his colleagues.[2] In fact, he believes that the synths could be a further evolution of humanity, if the Institute could only allow them to demonstrate their potential. These are not popular ideas in the Institute, especially in light of the recent increase in autonomous behavior among the latest gen-three models.[3]
Following the loss of his wife, Alan lives with a synthetic replacement he created in her image, an experiment to determine whether synths are sophisticated enough to form social and familial bonds.[4] Eve has caused him to come under the suspicion of deviant behavior.[5] Justin Ayo, head of the SRB, believes that his admiration for the synths has led him to mistake them for sentient beings and that Binet helps them escape to the surface. Binet vehemently denies the charge, as he would not do something as cruel as banishing them to the hellish wasteland.[6] The situation is not helped by the fact that the rate of escapes has greatly increased in recent months.[7]
Interactions overview
| Interactions | ||
|---|---|---|
| This character starts quests. |
| |
| This character is involved in quests. |
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Quests
- Pest Control: Alan asks the Sole Survivor to clear out a salvage site on the surface, so that the synths can move in.
- Plugging a Leak: Alan is one of the suspects in the SRB investigation.
Inventory
| Apparel | Weapon | Other items |
|---|---|---|
| Cleanroom Suit | Institute Pistol | Fusion Cells |
Notes
If Plugging a Leak was completed in favor of Doctor Ayo and Liam was banished from the Institute, he will become depressed and lament about how he did not save Liam and wonders if he is still alive on the surface.
Appearances
Alan Binet appears in Fallout 4.
Bugs
Binet may never give his Pest Control quest. Instead, he will speak his regular lines when the player character interacts with him.- He may also just give the quest reward and XP and thank you for clearing an area of ghouls without ever giving you any quests.
References
- ↑ Sole Survivor: "Do you ever log in from your quarters?"
Alan Binet: "Goodness no. When I retire for the day, I put any thought of work out of my mind. I find that keeping a balance between my work and my leisure time is vital for healthy living. Do you suspect that someone has logged into one of the laboratory terminals from my quarters?"
(Alan Binet's dialogue) - ↑ Max Loken: "Come now, Alan. It could have been anything. It was probably just a glitch in the nervous system. The fine motor control software could use an update."
Alan Binet: "If it were just a limb twitching, perhaps, but her eyes were moving as well. Involuntary twitching and rapid eye movements while sleeping can only mean one thing, Max. You just don't want to admit to yourself what it is."
Max Loken: "If you're about to launch into one of your impassioned speeches about artificial sentience and machines with souls, don't bother. I've heard enough of them by now. Hell, I could write them down from memory."
Alan Binet: "But we can't just ignore the question. If a synth can dream, why can't it have a soul? And if a synth has a soul, then it is a living person by every standard we can measure. Of course, it's far more comfortable to think of them as machines, so we can do what we want with them."
Max Loken: "If you disapprove of the work we do here, Doctor Binet, you know where to find the teleporter."
Alan Binet: "Now just a moment, I never said that. I'm simply trying to open everyone's eyes to new possibilities."
Max Loken: "Well it's an unwanted distraction. We're men of science, not philosophers. You'd do well to remember that."
Alan Binet and Max Loken's dialogue) - ↑ Alan Binet: "Think about it, doctor. You and everyone else firmly hold onto the archaic opinion that the synths are inferior. By limiting them, we limit our work."
Institute scientist: "I am well aware of your ideas, doctor, and there is a reason they are not the popular ones. There needs to be a distinction between us and them."
Alan Binet: "No, they are an evolution of us. The synths possess vast untapped potential, if we'd only let them show it..."
Institute scientist: "I suggest you keep your radical opinions to yourself from now on. Otherwise, you might find yourself being escorted to the teleporter for a one-way trip."
(Alan Binet and Institute Scientist's dialogue) - ↑ Sole Survivor: "What's a personal synth?"
Eve: "Doctor Binet is carrying out a social experiment. He wants to see if a synth can integrate into a human family. I know I can never replace his wife or be a real mother to Liam, but I can at least help with the domestic duties. I like to think I'm a pretty good cook."
(Eve's dialogue) - ↑ Max Loken: "How's that personal synth of yours working out? I've heard that Liam's grown quite attached to it."
Alan Binet: "Not "it", Doctor Loken, "she." And she has a name. To answer your question, Eve has been an indispensable companion, both to Liam and myself."
Max Loken: "Alan, I know it's been difficult for you since you lost your wife, but don't lose perspective. A synth might look like a man or a woman, but it isn't. It's not healthy to become too attached."
Alan Binet: "Need I remind you, Doctor Loken, that in biochemical terms a human being is also a machine."
Max Loken: "Don't hide behind technicalities, Alan. I'm your friend. I'm not judging you, but others will. Such behavior could be construed as deviant. You know where that will lead."
Alan Binet: "There's no need to get worked up over it, Max. I'm simply carrying out an experiment. I believe that our third-generation synths are sophisticated enough to form social bonds, even familial bonds. Only through close observation can I prove my hypothesis."
Max Loken: "Alright, Alan. I'll trust your judgement on this. Just be careful."
(Alan Binet and Max Loken's dialogue) - ↑ Sole Survivor: "Why would Ayo think you were helping synths?"
Alan Binet: "He probably thinks my admiration for the synths might have caused me to have some delusion about setting them free. The notion is preposterous. The last thing I'd want to do is banish a synth to the surface. It's a living hell up there. That's not freedom, it's a death sentence. I would never be so cruel."
(Alan Binet's dialogue) - ↑ Sole Survivor: "How many synths have escaped?"
Alan Binet: "I'm not sure of the exact number, but I can tell you the rate of escapes has accelerated greatly in recent months."
(Alan Binet's dialogue)
