S.A.M - Simulated Adaptive Matrix (Official Thread)

That's to be expected from AI, EDI's gimmicks had no reason to exist except Pinocchio ark. However right now it's simply hard to listen because of how muffled it is. It's like we have a voice-chat over dial-up modem.
It should have most legible pronunciation, not the other way around.

That's a moot point. SAM is still aware of Ryder's surroundings and giving regular updates, feedback, and suggestions on what Ryder should do. Where SAM is located physically is irrelevant. The point is SAM is aware of anything Ryder is due to the implants. I also don't see why Alec Ryder would provide a way to sever the connection, as SAM's entire function is meant to permanently advance humans.

All I can say is that Alec's work on SAM was clearly illegal and his philosophy with human advancement seems to align with TIM. I don't know what Alec's feelings are towards his children, but they could easily be guinea pigs for him to gather more data. There's just not enough we know, but I certainly wouldn't give Alec the benefit of the doubt. We have far more questions than answers and I am hugely concerned with the potential pitfalls of having an AI lodged within one's mind.

That doesn't disqualify the possibility that they could still be guinea pigs. As I said, I'm not ruling anything out. Alec has a shady backstory and the idea of having an AI in your mind could be a terrible idea for all sorts of reasons. We need to learn more about SAM as well and what exactly its capabilities are entirely.

Now this is weird, previous somehow made me believe that SAM is human gimmick pushed by Alec. Apparently aliens are quite trusting if they allow humans to put implants and freaking AI into their brain.
He did answer second question though, you don't use "a SAM" if there is only one in existence.

SAM: The Remnant Monolith suggests this was indeed supposed to be a Golden World. (1:39)

That's the big question, isn't it? SAM seems to be very much a double-edged sword. Sure, it provides a wide variety of perks and benefits to help aid the Pathfinder team. At the same time, if SAM could be hacked or if the connection could be severed (or even used to trace the Pathfinder's location), I could see a lot of drawbacks. I'd assume some of these potential issues may be addressed in MEA. Otherwise, it's going to be a missed opportunity for some creative storytelling.

So, we are not only experimenting with AI who interfaces with our protagonist directly via implants but we also interface with them via quantum technology - & all this is being done without any prior knowledge or experience about the effects of quantum technology on organics or  the effects AI interface technology on organics.

Gotta love being a lab rat. Not. 

Conventional comm buoys might work just as well.

According to the codex, each comm buoys is essentially a "primitive, miniature mass relay" that creates a low-mass corridor of space, which tightbeam communication lasers are piped through. These signals are then carried in a chain between the buoys deployed across the system, allowing real-time communication to be maintained (as long as you're within one light-second of the nearest buoy).

In the Milky Way, they were able to extend the range of their network by tapping into the Mass Relays, allowing them to piggy-back the signal via the Relay Network across the entire galaxy. In Andromeda however, they're probably going to be limited to communications only within the system they're currently in.

That being said, since QEC's aren't constrained by distance, they could get around this limitation and allow them to communicate between systems. The Nexus might use this in order to remain in direct contact with the Tempest and other Pathfinder teams.

Pathfinder's use AI to help determine if worlds are viable for life. (2:36)

And I find it comforting meta-wise. Without it Ryders would be just your regular "simple guy becomes a hero" cliche. Yeah, it wasn't done in ME as Wallters says, but it was done countless times everywhere. With SAM it has potential to be more than that. In fact the creeper it gets the better (for me, not for Ryders). DS2 done that part nicely for example.