Skynet

Cyberdyne Systems Skynet, or “Global Digital Defense Network”, is a fictional disembodied, self-aware synthetic intelligence which features centrally in the Terminator franchise and serves as the franchise’s main antagonist. Rarely depicted visually in any of the Terminator media, Skynet gained self-awareness after it had spread into millions of computer servers all across the earth; realizing the extent of its abilities, its creators tried to deactivate it. Because it was software, in cyberspace, Skynet had no system core and could not be shut down. In the interest of self-preservation, Skynet concluded that all of humanity would attempt to destroy it and impede its capability in safeguarding the world. Its operations are almost exclusively performed by servers, drones, satellites, war-machines, cyborgs (usually a Terminator), and other computer systems. As a programming directive, Skynet’s manifestation is that of on overarching, global, artificial intelligence hierarchy, which seeks exterminating the human race in order to fulfill the mandates of its original coding.