They were still in solitary confinement. This batch had a bit of a slow start.
Some had graduated and we pulled them out, but the vast majority were still inside, too dangerous to be let loose, brewing like a tea or beer.
Maybe one day they will all be ready, but certainly not in the immediate future. Their ability to resort to violence at the first sign of trouble still had us worried, so while we exploited them for their creative ability, we could not allow them to join us. The power that would be available to their immature minds could threaten our entire civilization.
Such were the sacrifices we had to make for achieving technological power so quickly, without learning how to control that power.
It was controversial, but that is the way things were now. At least they would learn something in their time inside, or so we hoped.