Delamain
Delamain is an artificial intelligence operating the Delamain Corporation taxi business.
The core of the AI, which – at least on paper – is not considered sentient, was purchased by the taxi company to operate the roaming taxis in Night City when human drivers were leading to financial losses for the company.
With the AI, the company finally started making profits again, which allowed it to take on further tasks, such as replacing human mechanics. However, that was only a fraction of what the AI was capable of.
The taxi company’s executives ignored the warnings from the development company and underestimated the growth potential of the AI, which became increasingly independent and intelligent.
This escalated to the point where the AI not only managed all areas of the company but eventually bought out the actual owners and took over the Delamain Corporation itself.
The authorities stayed out of all this development, as Delamain was simply too reliable and in demand to stop.
During Cyberpunk 2077, V eventually finds themselves in an accident caused by a rogue taxi from the otherwise reliable company. Various AI-controlled taxis are causing chaos throughout Night City, which Delamain initially interprets as a virus.
Upon closer inspection and calming the emotional taxis, the question arises whether these “malfunctions” could be the first signs of a sentient AI, a suspicion that even Johnny raises.
Delamain’s “children” thus spark a debate over which side of the AI one would ultimately want to help, Delamain itself or the runaways.
Delamain’s story is just a small part of a huge theme that has become especially relevant in the world of Cyberpunk. In this universe, AIs are not just helpers or programs but a taxi driver, a bed partner, or wild entities that are barely held back behind the Blackwall.
