Omnica Corporation

Omnica Corporation
Type	Robotics production group
Membership	500,000 employees
Standing	Defunct

Omnica Corporation was a multinational corporate entity that revolutionized the manufacturing of robotics through the use of their patented omnium factories, precipitating the Omnic Crisis.

History

Early History

Omnica began life as a "scrappy start-up" before becoming "a massive disrupter on the world stage." It pioneered the use of automation and self-improving software algorithms in robotics manufacturing. In the period before the Omnic Crisis, after the global proliferation of cybernetics technology, Omnica was one of two companies that initially dominated the field, the other being Ogundimu Synergies Inc. In Omnica's case, its medical arm eagerly pivoted towards cybernetics. However, Ogundimu Synergies and other companies were able to narrow the lead.

Omnica was one of the robotics corporations approached by corporate farmers, who purchased their robots for use on their megafarms, eliminating the need for human labor.

In addition to cybernetics, Omnica also carried out research and application of AI. Their AI and cybernetics improved countless lives and alleviated global poverty. Well aware of the trope of a robot uprising in science fiction, Omnica scientists were well aware of the risks they were taking in creating AI, and coded failsafes that would make such an eventuality impossible.

Growth

Omnica rose to become a multinational entity, with an annual budget greater than that of some nations. Their early support of [[Elaine Esat]'s cybernetics painted a picture of them as a force for good. However, Omnica's focus was the bottom line. All their work was firmly tied to their profit margins, and programs that failed to yield the desired results were abandoned, regardless of long-term projections. Some noted that Omnica appeared determined to integrate themselves into every aspect of human life.

Omnica became ubiquitous in robotics, to the extent that "omnic" became synonymous with robots as a whole, which were becoming ubiquitous in human civilization. In response to their critics, Omnica insisted that their robots were intelligent in only the technical sense, that while their neuroplasticity allowed them to learn within the limitations of their programming, they were not sentient (indeed, a truly sentient AI was unlikely to ever be created). True decision-making was non-existent in even their most advanced models, and their programming was curbed by failsafes and inbuilt limitations. With their critics placated, however temporarily, Omnica's growth in the robotics sector continued apace.

With the corporation struggling to meet demand for its robots, Omnica constructed and patented massive factories known as omniums. Domestic robots were in high demand, and human workers couldn't work through the night, and were prone to delays. Omniums would be self-powered, self-repairing facilities where the production of robots could be streamlined and optimized.

Through its omniums, Omnica promised to bring about an economic golden age. Cities around the world vied for the honor of housing an omnium facility, offering tax breaks and land grants. Several potential host cities were chosen for study. This aggressive bidding for omniums however were the first hints that something was wrong with Omnica. Detroit was chosen for one of the flagship omniums after an extensive public review, and the omnium was built and brought online in record time. However, less than a month after it went operational, a concerned group of citizens called for a full investigation, citing breach of contract. Omnica had promised jobs for local workers as part of the bidding process, but these had never materialized. The first reviews conducted by local government uncovered shortcuts in the construction and licensing process. Deeper audits followed, both financial and material, quickly embroiling federal agencies and revealing how the corporation had over-extended itself. In their effort to become globally essential, Omnica had lied to its shareholders and multiple governments.

Omnica's End

“	People want me to apologize for my work, but some of it was good work. The precise mechanics in your legs, the sensors in your eyes, were designed by Omnica Corp. Omnics cared for children and the elderly and the sick—did the jobs we previously paid low wages for. They lifted a generation out of poverty, saved countless lives...	„
	~ Mina Liao

Mina Liao

As Omnica's fortunes continued to sour, Omnica had to deal with the fact that it had become a victim of its own success. Its robots almost never broke down, and everyone who could afford to purchase an omnic had already done so. Many thought that their models could not be improved upon. The company needed a big new idea, something that could boost their share price before they collapsed under their own weight.

To change their fortunes, Omnica hired Mina Liao, asking her to improve upon their designs. She and her team began work creating the next generation of adaptive AI. She and her team succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations, as Omnica's research division produced some of the most advanced artificial intelligence the world had ever seen, and Omnica's robots became more advanced.

Events reached a head with the creation of Aurora; the first truly sentient AI ever built, capable of human-level cognition and beyond. Omnica was deeply divided on Aurora's creation, and as advanced as Aurora was, making a truly sentient (i.e. "alive" robot) had not been the team's goal. There was also the issue that as a truly sentient being, Aurora, or robots like her, could not be monetized. An international court declared Aurora sentient and granted her full civil rights. This was the death knell for Omnica, as the case had put spotlight on the corporation it wasn't able to withstand. By this point, the omniums had begun to malfunction, and analysts determined that their growth and output would never be able to meet corporate projections. The omniums that had been constructed had been a drain on local resources, and provided little immediate benefit to the people living at their locations. As word of Omnica's malfeasance spread, several omniums were scrapped before construction could get underway. Investigations followed, uncovering evidence of corporate fraud.

With its empire crumbling around it, Omnica executives ceased construction of the omniums, and ordered the decomissioning of all but one of the completed omniums. It was an attempt to stave off the inevitable however, and it was never going to succeed. The investigations lead to the forcible dissolution of Omnica Corporation and the dismantling of the omniums.

Within the year, Omnica was bankrupt.

Legacy

“	Could you have guessed that this would happen? Of course we could! Robot apocalypse is a favorite fodder of science fiction. But it's mostly that: fiction. Those who truly knew the science, who knew exactly how we created the omnics, knew that this destruction could never have happened as a result of our work. We were cautious when we needed to be—we coded enough fail-safes to make this kind of thing impossible. Clearly not 'enough,' though.	„
	~ Vivian Chase and Mina Liao during the Omnic Crisis

After Omnica's shutdown, other companies stepped in to fill the void, and omnic technology continued to advance.

Years after they'd been shut down, the defunct omniums reactivated themselves and launched a military campaign against humanity in a worldwide conflict that would come to be known as the Omnic Crisis. The cause of the omnic uprising was a mystery, and not even Omnica's former employees could explain what had happened, given that they had taken precautions for such an eventuality.

In posterity, Liao was remembered as the scientist who had helped to cement Omnica's dominance in robots, as well as the woman who had unintentionally destroyed the company.

Known Members

• Mina Liao (formerly)