: Hold on a minute though, let's make a distinction. The H5 Cortana isn't
: clothed , but nor does she have a human body or even a close imitation of
: one, so it doesn't seem right to describe her as naked or nude. The terms
: don't really apply. Going by mission 14 she looks like something
: artificial. Vaguely robotic in some ways.

In Halo 5 her appearence looks like she's wearing some sort of skin tight body suit but the main thing that stands out is that it gives her a somewhat forerunner/promethean look with some small metallic pieces floating on it. All in All the redesign for Halo 5 makes sense just based on her changed allegiance.

: I'm not sure if you just mean for H5, but I commented on the oddness in my
: old article on H4 at least. Other folk commented about it in the
: subsequent forum thread .

: As for this belated explanation that "she does it to put people off so
: that they're on their guard when talking to her and she has the upper hand
: in those conversations" and so on, pffh! Pure concoction, and a daft
: one at that. The Cortana I know from the games has no sign of being such
: an objectionable jerk.

Cortana doesn't flaunt her nudity, to her it's more like she just looks that way because. She's a collection of code projected to replicate a female body through a holographic display. If anything Cortana keeps people off balance by being sassy and outsmarting pretty much anybody or anything. Best example, is when she confront 343 genocidal lightbulb in Halo:CE and mixes her extensive knowledge with some good old fashioned insults, she doesn't seduce him, or strike a provocative pose, she makes herself huge and lords over him using physical size and straight stubborness. Cortana is naked because she is, end of story.