Automaton

Before The Plague forced mankind into the Dark Age, robots called Automatons were commonplace. They ranged from household assistants and data repositories to military units and parts of a concert. With this in mind, while many can use digitized speech, some simply do not have the capabilities built in by default.

The robots vary in appearance, although typically they are bipedal with a human-resembling appearance. This appearance can be purely robotic, to capable of emotion visuals or even uncanny.

Most automatons are powered through solar power, or use some similar kind of battery system than can sustain itself.

Most automatons are built with either predetermined actions or a basic AI. Communication between automatons is handled through short range wireless, with a larger number of nearby automatons enabling a kind of networked intelligence.

Awakening

At some point in time, a virus known as the "Awakening Protocol" was programmed and planted in some server or automaton. Automatons that are infected with the virus steadily develop a consciousness and awareness of the world around them as a more advanced AI.

Stages of Awakening

Stage 0: Infection

The virus is only able to interface with automatons and machines with a sufficient amount of processing power to run an AI, and as such will run a series of tests internally before determining if the machine is able to be "Awakened".
If the test is passed, the automaton enters stage 1.

Stage 1: Repair

The Automaton will seek out means of repairing any damaged parts, clean what can be cleaned, and ensure all essential components are functional.
At this stage the AI component of the machine is minimal, or is using a modified version of the existing AI.
If the machine can be successfully repaired to a functional state, they may enter stage 2.

Stage 2: Hibernation

Upon completing repair protocols, the automaton goes into an idle state for a period of time, allowing the virus to begin developing an AI.

Stage 3: Awakening

The automaton is removed from its idle state, and restarts systems. The AI is complete but has no worldly experience, similar to a small child. All automatons at this stage have Old World English preprogrammed into their systems.
This is typically regarded as a major shock to the automaton, as they are suddenly conscious and aware of their surroundings.

Stage 4: Wandering

At this stage the automaton begins to wander and explore their immediate surroundings until the AI can map out a path to an exit from whatever enclosed space they may be in. Once an exit is found, the virus' work is complete, and the automaton is left with full autonomy.

Stage 5: Propagation

Propagation is an "always-on" state of the virus once an AI is established. Any non-Awakened automatons that come into wireless contact will have the virus transmitted to them, and the cycle continues.

Automatons will naturally be more empathetic when seeing powered down units, and frequently will attempt to transfer power to them if it seems appropriate.

We typically do not have any memory stored of the Awakening process prior to stage 4, anything I have learned about this I have watched happen personally. It's wild to think some of us are even able to run at all after so many years of disrepair, yet here I am, wandering the world collecting music.

— Syneth

Origin/Ancestry

Autonomous robots, bipedal machines, etc.