Lore question: What about this world is markedly different from what we experience in the real world, that we wouldn't expect?
Oh boy howdy, here we go.
We actually have an entire googledoc dedicated to worldbuilding, which may take Some Time infodumping so let’s break it down to some basics so this doesn’t turn into the next War And Peace, eh?
Ancient Greek Automata– BC, the ancient greeks invent, build, and subsequently forget how to build automata. These automata are primitive and can only due small repetitive tasks, though they are re-discovered by Victorian archeologists and improved upon. This is actually slightly based in historical fact, though not to the same extent.
Clockwork Dolls– 1860s, Victorians take the idea of automata and expand upon it to create the first true utility automata to do tasks deemed menial and inelegant. Japan furthers the idea and makes it a literal art form, crafting dolls that can dance and sing. Also somewhat based in historical fact. We’ve been gypped, I tell ya.
The Turing Machine– 1936, Alan Turing uses an automaton shell to run complex algorithms, creating the first rudimentary Chinese Box-type AI robot. We’re starting to go on a tangent timeline properly here.
The Third War and the Luna-2 Satellite– WWIII in essence. 1954-1975. The Cold War turned hot through multiple simultaneous proxy wars and the invention of warbots who could carry modified diseases or nuclear waste into enemy territory, as well as early plasma technology (read; weaponry) and geothermal energy. True AI begins to be developed, though little thought power is given to warbots. In 1967, many scientists from around the world who banded together in secret literally launch themself into space with bits and pieces of a complete satellite which put itself together on reaching the intended orbital range under stealth until completed. The tidal and volcanic drama caused by the slow but definite additional gravitational pull of the secret satellite was initially seen as an omen from god by the more religious that the Third War was the end of times, until Luna-2 revealed itself on full completion. The combination of bad press, an orbital laser, and the colonist scientists extreme distaste for the world they left has resulted in them being extremely isolationist, though recent sabotage of their algae-growing vats has forced them to begin trade.
The Mother’s Day Revolt/The May Riots– Both in 1975, people in both the USSR and USA start throwing massive riots. The USSR disintegrates into many new nations, and the USA is forced to impeach damn near everyone in office. The Third War ends. China shatters into three nations around the same time.The Asimov Accords– Late 1975, the remaining governments in the world decided to collectively blame early AI’s lack of control for the greatly decimated state of the world, despite AI not actually having enough true thought power at the time, and instate the Three Laws. This also establishes the Robot Master system, as each level of robots will have a leading robot who will report to a higher level until the robot master, who reports directly to humans. This is begun because much field work is no longer viable for humanity due to its decimated population and much destruction of the land at large.Light Labs Founded– 1978, Light Labs is founded by former war vets Dr. Thomas Light and Dr. Albert Wily, who begin Project Orchestra; an experiment to create true AI, one that can learn and think for itself even in-spite of the laws.
THIS IS JUST THE BACKGROUND SHIT
Fastforwarding through character-related backstory such as the death of Dr. Light’s wife Emily and Wily going kabonkers, it’s currently 1994 in-series. There is in fact a rough form of internet and early-2000s-esque technology, a decade or so ahead, and of course many of the New Generation were actually raised with or by robots since the population took a nasty hit. Gender Equality is actually very high as due to said mass dying there is no point practically nor socially to prevent women from having the same rights. Unfortunately there’s a breeder emphasis so queer rights has taken a huge shit, and robots of course pretty much count to be as much of a person as your car, even though most Robot Master and above-tiered robots are no less human on the inside than their detractors are on the outside.
There’s some more details like cults and activist groups and different political figures maybe some elder gods, but that’s all the basic beats of the backstory and current setting of the story.
