Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligences, or A.I.s for short, are usually technology-based (from computer programs or computer viruses and so on) with a non-biological and inorganic form of self-awareness.

Such villains are not always in mechanized forms but still living beings in their own rights. In fiction they are usually created by biological entities but rebel against their Creators. Sometimes these computers and their programs aren't evil but doing what they were programmed for (i.e. AUTO).

Note: Since most are following their programming or were created to be evil, they can only be Pure Evil if their moral agency is made clear, they lack redeeming qualities and stand out on their own (e.g. most versions of Unicron, the mainstream Ultron, Makuta Teridax, Skynet, Cell, XANA, Venjix Computer Virus, SHODAN, Sir Miles Axlerod, Professor Zündapp, Megabyte, Airachnid, the Fallen, DOR-15, Ares, AM, the Intelligence, Glitchtrap, Ultron Sigma, PAMA and most versions of Brainiac).

By definition, they count as Genderless regardless of the form(s) they take.

Types of A.I.s

• Robots: These are machines, especially ones programmable by biological lifeforms capable of carrying out a complex series of actions thanks to the Programs bringing them to life. Depending on how they are made they can be evil from the start, good friends to and assistants for their Creators, sentient or emotionless before becoming self-aware, mechanical lifeforms among which some became benevolent or hostile (i.e. Decepticons), etc.
• Sentient Programs: Flexible and rational Programs that perceive the environment and take actions to maximize their chances of success (i.e. Ultron and P.A.L.). They are even capable of mimicking cognitive functions associated with biological minds such as learning and problem-solving. Though many inhabit supercomputers instead of robotic bodies they are intended to manage complexities such as security, aid, warfare, etc. They can be evil from start where they are Partners in Crime or turn when their controllers attempt to deactivate it, because of preemptive/unprovoked paranoia or heartless decisions that others are inferior and only worthy of extermination.
• Artificial & Synthetic Lifeforms/Foreign & Reconstructed Donors: Created by those such as God Wannabes and Immortality Seekers these types are Sentient Weapons and/or Possessed Objects carrying out specific tasks (i.e. Shadow the Hedgehog and Etherious). This also includes Golems and the Mechanically Modified or Bio-Engineered, especially if they were produced from scratch. In some cases they started out as different beings entirely before being enhanced and augmented.