Revised criticality estimate
Nice work, Tech!
I oversimplified the situation when I earlier estimated 3-4 years before the TomAI would reach critical mass and ignite. While the sheer mass of the record of Tom's mental pathways sets one limit, it's insufficient for the bits to just sit there--the bits must be "awakened" and circulate and interact with the remaining human minds. As people become more skilled at running a Tom Simulation for themselves, they hasten the day when the various ephemeral instances of the simulation coalesce and become a persistent AI.
Latest estimate: 2.75-3.5 years.