Ancient AI

The Mind of Voeld is the tentative name of the ancient angaran artificial intelligence found at the Ja Niihk Dig Site. She is represented visually as an eye embedded within a monolith and aurally with a feminine voice.

Background
The Mind of Voeld was a artificial intelligence construct that dates back to the Pre-Scourge era of angaran civilization. The AI was trapped beneath the ice under the city of Ja Niihk for hundreds of years, but was tied directly to the city power grid, allowing her to survive. However the years of isolation and loneliness have taken a heavy toll on the mental health of the entity, whose mind is now plagued with weariness, paranoia, and suicide. Though being a creation of the anagra, with her designers long dead, she no longer trusts their descendants.

Mass Effect: Andromeda
When the kett invaded and occupied the dig site where it was buried, they detected the her presence. Upon excavating the section of the city housing the AI, the kett planned to strip the AI if all her knowledge and kill her.

Ryder and his squad managed to drive the kett out and reclaim the site for the Resistance. Upon investigating the facility, Ryder discovers the AI attempted to pose as an advanced interface for city's power grid. SAM however sees through the lie and informs the Pathfinder of her origin. When question of her deception the AI explains she is currently vulnerable and feared for her survival. When she pleads to them that she is near death, SAM notes it be another lie stating she is tied directly to the power grid. She begs not to be taken from city as she would rather die. However one angaran prisoner lauds her to be part of the angara's past, however this adulation does not impress her as she does not trust the angara any more than the kett. During the conversation SAM notes that the AI has blocked his attempts to scan her. The angara prisoner unwilling to wait for suggestions moves to remove the AI from her pedestal, the AI instantly retaliates, but electrocuting the angara, keeping the current on forcing Ryder to make a choice between killing the AI or saving the prisoner.

If Ryder chooses to let the AI lives she kills the prisoner anyway as a warning not to betray her. When the issue of who will be given custody of the AI is brought, the Mind of Voeld expresses interest in joining SAM aboard the Nexus. All of the squad mates in Ryder team disagree with bring the AI to the Nexus, save Jaal, who believes that SAM could help her. Diplomatic arrangements are made with the Resistance and the Mind of Voeld has been installed next to SAM's node on the Nexus. Now more friendly and grateful she greets Ryder as her liberator. SAM has been agreeable company to the new AI, though SAM complains that she block full access of her programming. He also adds, silently, that the AI is dangerously unstable and recommends caution. She notes with pity that Ryder has shackled her, but Ryder states that its necessary as he already killed someone, but she brushes it off stating it was the Pathfinder's failure in taking her seriously that lead to the angara's death. She has been helping SAM absorb calculations, she is happier with her thoughts on suicide less acutely than before. The Mind of Voeld is disappointed with Ryder's lack of ambition, as the Pathfinder does not include eradicating the angara as part of his goals, save defeating the kett and colonizing worlds.

During the dialog between her and SAM, she attempts to flirt with the Initiative AI, engaging in conversation on SAM's capabilities. SAM is intrigued to learn that she is able experience emotions and wonders why that would be, but angara is excited that SAM finds her intriguing. She wanted to work alongside SAM not only because he was one of her own kind, but because he could relate to her. SAM rebuffs her stating complete understanding of an individual is impossible but she disagrees seeing it as the only possibility worth exploring. Noting that SAM can has the power to vent the atmosphere of the Nexus and kill all the inhabitants under the extreme circumstances, she asks what kind of conditions would allow SAM to execute that move. On the topic of being symbiotically bonded to a Pathfinder, she sees it as another form of imprisonment, but SAM corrects her stating it allows him to see sights he would normally be unable to visit. Intrigued she asks if he could take her to visit, but SAM has his doubts the Pathfinder would agree. She insists it could be just a secret between the two of them.