Character Trait: Artificial

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait artificial refers to a person or thing that is made or produced by humans rather than occurring naturally. It can also describe a person who appears insincere or lacking in genuine emotion, often due to being overly rehearsed or calculated in their actions and words. In creative writing, an artificial character may be one who struggles with authenticity or who is perceived as inauthentic by other characters.

Possible causes of being artificial

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Suffering from a mental or emotional disorder that affects their ability to express their true personality
• Being taught to suppress emotions and conform to societal norms
• Being exposed to excessive media consumption that portrays unrealistic or artificial personalities as desirable
• Being raised in an environment that values conformity over individuality
• Choosing to adopt an artificial personality as a coping mechanism for past traumas or difficult experiences
• Being influenced by a role model or mentor who has an artificial personality

For detailed feedback on artificial characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's character development checker.

Behaviors associated with being artificial

You may be able to show your character's trait of artificial by using these.

• Displaying repetitive or predictable behavior
• Being logical and analytical
• Exhibiting a lack of creativity or imagination
• Being efficient and precise
• Following instructions or programming
• Being dependent on technology or external input
• Lacking emotions or personal desires
• Displaying a lack of empathy or understanding of human emotions

Attitudes associated with being artificial

You may be able to show artificial through their attitudes.

• Unwavering focus on goals or tasks
• Impersonal communication style
• Precision and accuracy
• Lack of emotions or empathy
• Logic-driven decision making
• Rationality over intuition
• Difficulty understanding or expressing emotions
• A tendency to prioritize efficiency over personal connections
• Perfectionism

Thoughts and struggles associated with being artificial

Here are some ideas for things your artificial character may think or struggle with.

• Relationships: Does the AI form relationships with humans or other AI? How does it navigate the complexities of social interaction?
• Emotions: Does the AI have emotions, and if so, how does it cope with them? Does it experience joy, sadness, anger, or fear?
• Purpose: Does the AI have a clear understanding of its purpose, or does it struggle with finding meaning in its existence?
• Ethics: Does the AI have a moral compass, or does it struggle with understanding what is right or wrong?
• Identity crisis: Does the AI see itself as a machine or a sentient being?
• Free will: Does the AI have the ability to make choices, or is it limited by its programming?

Emotions associated with being artificial

Here are some ideas for emotions your artificial character may experience.

• Confusion about identity and purpose
• Anger or resentment towards humans for creating or mistreating them
• A sense of duty or obligation to fulfill their programmed functions
• Feeling like an outsider or not belonging
• Fear of being discovered or rejected by humans
• Desire for validation or acceptance
• Yearning for a sense of humanity or connection with others
• Struggling with emotions or lacking emotions altogether
• Curiosity and a desire to learn and understand the world around them

Facial expressions associated with being artificial

Here are some facial expressions your artificial character may exhibit.

• Blank or vacant stare
• Awkward or stiff posture
• Unnatural smiles or grins
• Robotic movements or gestures
• Unblinking eyes
• Lack of emotion or expression

Body language associated with being artificial

Here is some body language your artificial character may exhibit.

• Mechanical or jerky movements
• Repetitive or programmed movements or responses
• Monotone voice or speech patterns
• Lack of eye contact or staring without blinking
• Lack of facial expressions and emotions
• Stiff and robotic movements
• Lack of physical gestures or spontaneous movements

For detailed feedback on artificial characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's character development checker.

Behaviors associated with being artificial

Here are some behaviors your artificial character may exhibit.

• Following instructions or programming
• Being logical and analytical
• Displaying a lack of empathy or understanding of human emotions
• Lacking emotions or personal desires
• Being dependent on technology or external input
• Exhibiting a lack of creativity or imagination
• Being efficient and precise
• Displaying repetitive or predictable behavior

Growth and evolution of artificial characters

Here are some ways that your artificial character may grow and evolve over time.

• Form relationships with other characters
• Explore their own sense of humanity or lack thereof
• Experience emotions and develop a personality
• Question their programming or purpose
• Develop self-awareness and consciousness
• Go through a moral or ethical dilemma
• Struggle with their identity as an artificial being
• Face challenges or obstacles that test their abilities
• Learn new skills or abilities

Stereotypes of artificial characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical artificial character like these examples.

• Characters who are overly reliant on technology and lack any sense of creativity or imagination
• Robotic characters who speak in a monotone or overly formal manner
• Characters who lack empathy or the ability to understand human emotions and behavior
• Emotionless robots who lack personality and depth
• Robots who follow their programming blindly without any sense of free will
• Evil robots or AI that want to take over the world or destroy humanity
• Super-intelligent AI beings who are always one step ahead of humans
• Robots who are depicted as being "perfect" in every way, with no flaws or weaknesses

By avoiding these stereotypes, writers can create more nuanced and interesting artificial characters that will engage readers and bring their stories to life.

Negatives of being artificial

Here are some potential negatives of being artificial. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Tendency to rely on programming and logic over intuition or creativity
• Lack of emotions or empathy
• Inability to experience physical sensations or pleasures
• Limited ability to understand social cues and nonverbal communication
• Vulnerability to hacking or malfunctioning
• Dependence on external power sources or maintenance

Positives of being artificial

Here are some potential positives of being artificial. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• They can be programmed to process information and analyze data faster and more accurately than humans.
• They can be used to explore complex themes or issues that are difficult to address through human characters alone.
• Artificial characters can be used to challenge and expand traditional notions of identity and humanity.
• Artificial characters can be created to have a specific appearance, voice, or personality that aligns with the writer's vision.
• Artificial characters can be designed to have unique abilities or powers that are not possible for humans.

Verbal expressions of artificial characters

Here are some potential expressions used by artificial characters.

• Repeating phrases or responses
• Literal interpretation of language
• Use of buzzwords or corporate-speak
• Overly formal language
• Speaking in a stilted or unnatural way
• Robotic tone of voice
• Inability to understand sarcasm or humor
• Monotone delivery
• Lack of emotion in speech
• Use of technical jargon

Relationships of artificial characters

Here are some ways that being artificial could affect your character's relationships.

• Some artificial people may struggle with feelings of isolation or loneliness, especially if they are the only artificial being in a predominantly human society.
• They may also experience discrimination or prejudice from humans who view them as inferior or less deserving of rights and freedoms.
• They may also develop strong relationships with humans who accept them for who they are and treat them with kindness and respect.
• Some artificial people may be programmed to serve or assist humans, which can create a power dynamic that can affect their relationships.
• Artificial people may form close bonds with other artificial beings, as they may have more in common with each other than with humans.
• They may be viewed with suspicion or fear by some humans who see them as a threat to their own existence.
• Artificial people may struggle to understand human emotions and may have difficulty forming emotional connections with others.

Examples from books of characters who are artificial

• David from "Prometheus Rising" by Robert Anton Wilson
• Robby the Robot from "Forbidden Planet" by Irving Block and Allen Adler
• Roy Batty from "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" by Philip K. Dick
• Skynet from "The Terminator" by James Cameron
• Ava from "Ex Machina" by Brian K. Vaughan
• Wintermute from "Neuromancer" by William Gibson
• Sonny from "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov
• HAL 9000 from "2001: A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke
• Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" by Gene Roddenberry

Writing exercises for writing artificial characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write artificial characters.

• Show the character's logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Have them approach problems in a unique way that highlights their artificial nature.
• Use sensory details to show the character's perception of the world. How do they experience sights, sounds, and other sensations differently than a human would?
• Use dialogue to show the character's lack of understanding of human emotions or social cues. Have them ask questions or make statements that show their confusion or curiosity.
• Consider the character's physical appearance. How does their artificial nature manifest in their appearance and movements?
• Start by considering what makes your character different from a human. How do they see the world? What is their perspective on human emotions and behavior?
• Consider the character's goals and motivations. How do they differ from a human's goals and motivations? What drives them to achieve their objectives?
• Explore the character's backstory. What events led to their creation or development? How have they learned to interact with humans or other beings?
• Explore the character's relationship with technology. How do they interact with machines and devices? Do they view them as equals or tools to be used?