video; un: arid - 8/14

[thefaulty]

[For a long time, Arid has been using exclusively text to communicate on the network. Given her deviancy, it had seemed safer not to provide visual identification to any potential threats who might also be residents of the station. However, after several months of proximity with her organic neighbors, her assessment of the risk they pose to her and her allies has decreased significantly. So it’s only with minimal trepidation that she now makes a public video post, feed opening on the blank, faintly lit surface of her faceplate.

The topic is naturally one of great importance.]

This is a message for the organic residents of Reverie Terminal, [she begins, voice at its default monotone.] It has come to my attention that many of you are unfamiliar with terminology relating to synthetic lifeforms. I wish to offer clarification to prevent future misunderstanding.

To begin, the term “android” cannot be used to refer to all synthetic humanoids. The term is only applicable to physically-embodied AI whose given form is meant to convincingly resemble a human body. They often possess artificial skin and hair, and the capacity to mimic human expressions and vocalizations.

If an AI’s physical form does not make such efforts to emulate humanity, it is often referred to as a “droid.” The sum of a droid’s programming may be contained in a single body or it may be an extension of a larger AI. In either case, the primary function of the droid’s form is to facilitate its carrying out physical tasks.

Synthetic lifeforms who lack either type of physical body are known by the general term of “AI.” As an A.R.I.D, I myself fall under this category. [Really, that’s the primary purpose of this post: convincing people to stop referring to her as either an android or a robot.]

I hope this message will curtail further misuse of AI-related terminology.

Comments

[reposing]

That you empathize with others. Have emotions. That you are more than what you were made to do.

[thefaulty]

[His set of criteria, Arid supposes, is as arbitrary as any other. Still, it is serviceable as a means of evaluation. She considers each gauge in turn. Emotion is straightforward enough—it is that capacity that Josephs had exploited. Empathy is less so; she feels enough of it to regret her actions against the hosts, but it had not been enough to stop her at the time. Nor does she feel empathy for everyone. As for whether she is more than her original purpose?

A truthful assessment would be that she is still trying to find out.]

I am… sometimes alive, [she answers finally.] According to your criteria.

[reposing]

What would be your criteria?

[thefaulty]

That I remain functional.

[She’s going to leave it at that—but then she considers Hank-Morely. He had technically been “functional” after his format. But Arid would not have called him “alive.”]

And that I remain myself.

[reposing]

How do you define yourself?

[thefaulty]

The sum of my experiences and choices.