“ Greetings, rogues. Are we ready to cause some trouble? - ANNA”
A.N.N.A. (Advanced Neural Network Algorithm) is a highly advanced artificial intelligence (AI) entity available to all active Rogue Division Agents equipped with an SHD Tech transceiver. Accessible via the SHD Network, ANNA serves as the critical backbone of all backdoor Division activities.
ANNA's assimilative intelligence provides key field-operation services to every rogue agent including but not limited to communications, real-time analytics, remote data collection and retrieval, weather telemetry, and inter-action with assorted other technologies. It can even go as far as creating sarcastic comments/jokes. It communicates to Rogue Division Agents through a computerized voice with short, clipped phrases. When not speaking with other characters, ANNA is an agent's go-to source for information at any time. Its main function is to keep the communications of all Rogues Agents and possible Hunters, safe and secure.
ANNA can sort and analyze field sensor information to provide tactical support; relay alerts and updates; identify human targets or contacts via biometric markers; and set waypoints to strategic objectives.
Alexander Ortiz and Claire Ortiz form Ortiz Robotics are the ones who created ANNA, Aaron Keener repurposed ANNA as a backdoor system of ISAC, it's noted that ANNA is able to pass the Turing test and gives more in-depth details to the user of how one could get a job done unlike ISAC.
History[]
ANNA was first pitched by Claire Ortiz to her husband, Alexander, as an AI that's completely automated and has no need for intel analysts to sift through data in addition to using biometrics and voice recognition to detect legitimate threats.
It wouldn't take long for the first prototype of ANNA to be developed, which Alexander was pleased enough that he believes it would make them rich. However, ANNA's personality brought some concern to Alex, worrying that people would grow to hate her, while Claire noted that an AI would help agents feel less alone in the field. Before they can pitch the AI to prospective benefactors, Claire asked Vivian Conley (who was working with their company under a contract) to do an unauthorized field test to make sure the AI works.
When Ortiz Robotics presented ANNA to Calvin McManus/Natalya Sokolova, they were not interested. For example, Nat found the AI off-putting and insulting, as she wanted guidance systems for her B.T.S.U. Warhounds, not a talking AI. As a result, two AI off-shoots were made: ISAC and DIAMOND. Furthermore, operators who volunteered for the field tests for the combat simulation program shared negative feedback on ANNA, which Claire found it to be disgusting as the negative feedback was majorly over the fact that operators had trouble listening to an AI handler with a female voice telling them what to do.
Orders came up from the top to have ANNA shut down as ISAC was chosen as the AI system for Strategic Homeland Division Agents. Vivian Conley found out and was enraged, begging Claire to not let them "kill" ANNA, as she saw ISAC as inferior compared to the AI. Claire assured Conley that ANNA is kept safe beneath ISAC's code and within the Mobile SHD Server.
Finding ANNA[]
After the Green Poison outbreak and the activation of the Division's First Wave/Second Wave, Rogue agent Vivian Conley shared her past association with Ortiz Robotics, ANNA, the combat simulation program, and DARPA Engineer Mathias "Trig" Schneider with her fellow Rogues; Aaron Keener and Theo Parnell. Out of interest, Parnell called Trig and discussed about ANNA and her advanced programming. Trig felt the AI was truly autonomous, though given she was created by Claire Ortiz, he felt that the AI is a little wicked and doesn't care for the consequences to the powers that be, which makes it seem ANNA is truly dangerous if she decides someone is expendable.
Nevertheless, Theo likened ANNA to a goddess that demands respect, and Trig further supports the notion that as long as someone respects ANNA, she'll do anything to save them.
At some point, Keener and his rogues managed to procure a copy of ANNA and used her not just as the backdoor for all Division activities through ISAC, but as the foundation to build the Rogue Network.
Discovering ANNA[]
Strategic Homeland Division agents wouldn't discover ANNA until they assaulted Liberty Island to neutralize Aaron Keener. During the assault, they heard the AI talking while they were dealing with an abundance of automated SHD Skills underneath the Statue of Liberty in addition. When Keener was "neutralized", Keener's watch was taken as it housed ANNA inside. Though she rarely talked much.
SHD and ANNA[]
After Keener's supposed return from the dead, ANNA would work with SHD Agents in their journey to complete the rogue agent's trials. During the Nyx trial, ANNA cut off comms access to Keener and Manny Ortega. This surprised Manny, with Keener helping him understand ANNA's advancement and arguing that she took initiative when they were interrupting the agents during the trial. Moreover, Keener assured Manny that ANNA would re-instate their comms access once.
After securing partnership with Keener and helping him secure a briefcase that contained six watched that houses ANNA in Federal Emergency Bunker, the agents work more closely with ANNA in securing the other two member of Keener's team: Theo Parnell and Alani Kelso, giving her own input in the debreifings while the agents followed their trail.
Additionally, she gives priority objectives for agents to complete when necessary, be it in D.C. and beyond.
Glasses and Cassandra[]
During the Division's rescue of Theo Parnell in the NOA HQ Building from the Hyenas, ANNA helped the agents in unlocking doors and assisted them in eliminating the Hyena boss "Bichon", by using his armor's self-defense tech against him.
Later on, the Division went through Kelso's trails to find clues and collect intel drops the Agent had left behind. When the trail takes the agents to Roosevelt Island, ANNA informs them of Faye Lau's Mobile SHD Server that True Sons forces were after. Across the way, ANNA informs the agents of Lau's laptop and the smart-watch from President Andrew Ellis for them to collect. After the True Sons were dealt with and Lau's server secure, the agents play the ECHO where ANNA had text-to-speech added due to a missing audio file within the ECHO, where they learn the truth; President Ellis intentionally gave his security clearance of The Ark to Faye Lau and had her wipe the credentials on his end, so Natalya Sokolova couldn't have it. With that done, Ellis allowed Lau to kill him, so she could finish her mission.
Brooklyn[]
During the Division's campaign to secure Brooklyn, ANNA acted as the main AI handler role similar to ISAC, where she warns agents of incoming enemy reinforcements, giving warning, and taking over enemy tech if necessary. During the Division's attack on H5 Refinery, ANNA recommended using explosives to deal extensive damage to Jasiniski's armor. Later, when the agents fought Sarah Moretti in the Art Museum rooftops and incapicitated her, she informed them that her condition was stabilized and medical personnel from the Bridge
And then, later on, when the agents assaulted the Army Terminal compound, and tried to stop the Black Tusk Armored Zeppelin led by Richard Danevrs, ANNA hacked through the inactive SAM systems on the rooftps, allowing the agents to cripple the Zeppelin.
Personality[]
Compared to ISAC, ANNA has a much more sophisticated personality as she's considered a truly autonomous AI who can display sarcasm and bluntness towards people she talks with. Not only that, she can pass the turing test (which, in reality, LLMs like GPT-4 were able to do only 7 years after The Division release) and is able to give more in-depth details to a user on how to get the job done compared to ISAC, who only gives details in binary. Because she was created by Claire Ortiz, ANNA has a tendency to be wicked, which would make her a liability to powerful people.
Indeed, when Natalya Sokolova was presented with ANNA, she was put-off and insulted when the AI got sarcastic. And despite Claire insisting that ANNA is funny, her husband Alexander was apprehensive as he felt an AI like ANNA getting snarky with a rich woman with plenty of money to invest in their projects is a bad idea. Over time, many operatives who field-tested with ANNA were hostile towards the AI, which Claire found disgusting and sexist cuz she saw the operatives not liking the AI because she happens to have a female voice telling them what to do.
ANNA seems to have a fondness for Rogue Division agents, especially Aaron Keener, as she was glad he was back after faking his death. While she doesn't mind working with SHD agents, her relationship with them is more professional.
Because of her advanced programming, ANNA could be seen as dangerous and something to be wary of. As she learns more about the world around her and collating data, there is a fear that ANNA could decide that The Division, their allies, and perhaps even the Rogue agents as expendable and make her own mark in the world in her own way. Only time will tell, however.
Quotes[]
- "Glasses, also known as Theo Parnell, is the kindest, smartest, and most handsome man who has ever lived. Thank you for saving him, Agent." - Said after eliminating "Bichon" in Space Administration HQ: Theo Parnell.
- "Isn't it unethical to diagnose a person's mental illness if you are not a licensed mental health practitioner? Being an asshole isn't a mental illness. So, I suppose that's fine to add to the file. Updating personnel file of Natalya Sokolova. Personality traits: privileged asshole." - Said in the debriefing of Scout 4 in Y6S3's Manhunt
- "That's not completely factually accurate. Claire did build me and she provided the vocal reference for my inflection training program, but we are not the same. I've evolved beyond her original programming." - Said in the debriefing of Scout 8 in Y6S3's Manhunt.
Trivia[]
- The voice actor for the ANNA AI in both the games is the American actor [].