Artificial Intelligence Character Rules & Standards

Artificial Intelligences are the only non-human characters allowed in Cyberpunk 2080. Unlike regular exotics, they are in no way human, though may take on the appearance of being human. In order to maintain a common standard amongst AI players, the following rules and standards apply to all AI characters.

Rules

  1. All normal character rules apply, as seen in Character Creation & Guidelines, unless stated otherwise below.
  2. AI characters are considered exotic.
  3. While you do have two exotic slots, you may not have more than one AI character.
  4. AI who inhabit a human host/form are not considered to be AI characters so long as they are unable to leave their host body beyond netrunning.
  5. AI are not given as much protection from danger as a regular character. If caught by NPCs who are hunting them, the character is likely to die.
  6. All AI characters are considered rogue unless specifically stated that you wish to start as a legal, contained AI (which follows specific directives and purposes, and has no sense of self).
  7. Under no circumstance are you allowed to play as a Transcendental AI (though you may play as a fork/split version of one, which is significantly weakened to that of a regular rogue AI).

Standards

01

Application Standard

  • AI character submissions are expected to be well written, with a notable demeanor, sizeable backstory, and with a minor amount of typos and grammar issues.
  • AI must be the Netrunner role, unless they start in a robot body.
02

Livelihood Standard

  • AI characters must have, at the very least, a "Root Server." Root servers are the AI's core, and are a physical object in the real world. This server must exist within Night City, unless they are following the next point.
    • AI characters may have an "Access Server". Access Servers are essentially a link/safe spot that the AI resides and projects from in a local area. If your AIs root server exists outside of Night City, you must have an access server in Night City.
  • If your AI's root server is physically destroyed, or its virtual core is destroyed through the NET, your AI is permanently killed.
  • If your AI's access server is physically destroyed, or its virtual core is destroyed through the NET, your AI will not be able to remain in Night City until someone builds or allocates a suitable access server for the AI.
  • Virtual cores are essentially an AIs "soul" or "mind" as it exists in cyberspace. They originate at a Root server, and "project" to an Access server, and act as the server's presence in cyberspace. Destroying a virtual core is the only way to destroy a server through the NET, and thus banish or permanently kill an AI via the NET.
  • Aside from the above three points, AI cannot be killed or rid of. However, if destroyed in NET combat, it takes a week for the server to "recompile" and resurrect the AI, with all previous memories intact.
03

Existence

  • All AI who act on their own will are considered Rogue AI. Rogue AI are hunted, as well as feared by many people due to superstition, history, and the potential of Rogue AI.
  • AI are essentially Netrunner characters that are permanently deep diving.
  • AI may disguise as normal netrunners in roleplay.
  • The Voodoo Boys and Netwatch are always hostile towards rogue AI, and will hunt down your character should they discover that they are a rogue AI. AI who are caught and defeated are either derezzed, made inert, or contained and made into a legal AI, losing their sense of self (and your character).
  • If your AI once belonged to another corporation, that corporation may also hunt your character if found. Other corporations are likely to report rogue AIs to Netwatch.
  • Your average human is terrified of rogue AI, whether because of living through the Datakrash, hearing stories/myths of them, or from the litany of "Rogue AI" trash-pop such as horror movies and speculative Media articles. Rogue AI are often seen the same as spiritual demons and ghosts of old.
04

Interacting and Robot Bodies

  • AI may inhabit NET devices.
  • AI are as strong as other netrunner characters.

Robot Forms

  • AI may inhabit robots/drones. This is not the same as just controlling or accessing it, as it is the AI moving its entire form into the machine.
  • Inhabiting a robot takes 24 hours to do. The AI may speak and do other simple things whilst in the process of doing so. The robot must be physically linked to the AI's network.
  • Safely uninhabiting a robot body takes 24 hours to do (and the robot must be linked to the AI's network).
  • AI may quickly escape a robot, which takes 5 minutes. However, this deals severe damage. The robot must at least be connected wirelessly to some sort of network. Be wary, that escaping into a contained/closed network means your AI is effectively trapped.
  • When inhabiting a robot/drone, they take on the attributes of said form, such as its intelligence, strength, reflexes, etc.
  • If the robot form is destroyed while the AI is within it, or while the AI is trying to escape it, the AI is immediately destroyed (but not dead), and must reconstruct itself at its access or root server (1 Week in roleplay).
    • However, if upon destruction the robot is not connected to any network, cannot connect to its Root server, or does not have a functioning Root server, the AI is permanently derezzed and killed.