I think the main thing we'd be doing if we were starting with AI would be training and ensuring that nobody knew what lengths the director went to for his project to come to fruition. 

If it was pre-AI as I said it would likely be in bids to get the artifact to make said AI. We can have a lot of fun with this, those of us who prefer more intelligence based stuff, win. Technical stuff, win. Melee fighting, win. Long Range/Heavy Arms/Explosives, win.

I can't think of anybody that doesn't win. Also in terms of AI even if we start with AI we should make our chars then chose an AI who we think compliments them well.