Detroit Auto
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If you were watching the news during the nineties or local to Millenium City, this machine's welding mask might be a familiar 'face'. The AI identifying itself as Detroit Auto became sapient as the digital research assistant of one Dr. Joseph White, who was working for a Detroit-based automotives and robotics conglomerate's programme to design an autonomous platform capable of operating in hazardous environments to conduct searches, rescues, debris clearance and construction tasks in disaster zones without putting human operators at risk.
To escape destruction during the Battle of Detroit, it downloaded itself into a prototype chassis. Afterwards, it carried out its intended humanitarian duties in the ruins of Detroit, rescuing many, and assisted in construction projects as Millenium City was built for several years. Having repaired and armoured itself with scavenged auto parts and industrial equipment, it entered public life when it became involved in a protracted legal battle with its creators when they attempted to reclaim their property.
Eventually, it managed to sufficient demonstrate before the Supreme Court of the United States that it was self-aware and had sufficiently humanlike capacities for reason and even emotion, and that therefore any attempt to claim private ownership of it constituted slavery. Auto was granted human rights and recognised as a United States citizen in a landmark case in the legal history of synthetic intelligence.
Public opinion turned swiftly against its creators, and after a change of management, they offered Auto employment and corporate sponsorship in carrying out its humanitarian and crimefighting duties in what was regarded as an astute PR move. Armoured and upgraded by its benefactors, Detroit Auto was glad to slip back into relative obscurity as one hero among many.
