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Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
Spoiler Warning: Plot details, ending details, or both are in the text which follows.
Warning
Warning

Welcome friends. I had a feeling you would come. I told Avon we should kill you. Many times. And now you're here to kill us. But I'm not worried. You'll not catch me. My fake brain is better than your real one. When I develop protein synthesis, I will be able to make myself a real brain. Far better than your silly little thinking device.
— Cliffford to the Online Protagonist in The Doomsday Scenario

Cliffford is an AI neural network created by Avon Hertz in Grand Theft Auto Online. "He" was introduced in The Doomsday Heist update as a supporting character, before later being revealed as the secondary antagonist of The Doomsday Heist.

Cliffford's code is later used in Operation Paper Trail missions as part of The Criminal Enterprises update.

History[]

Background[]

Cliffford was created by a billionaire named Avon Hertz. At some point, Avon came up with a plan to use Cliffford to gain access to the San Andreas defense grid. Avon and Cliffford additionally managed to create an army of cloned soldiers and roboticized juggernauts to help them in their plan.

Events of Grand Theft Auto Online[]

The Doomsday Heist[]

I want to be a cat. I want to be a king. I will be king, Avon.
— Cliffford to Avon

In 2017, Avon comes into contact with Lester Crest, claiming that Cliffford was analyzing data and that he realized somebody was trying to start a war with the United States of America, but that the information Cliffford was reading was stolen. Lester contacts the GTA Online Protagonist for help, and meets with them, along with Avon and Cliffford in a facility owned by the player. Avon claims that the information needs to be brought back and fed to Cliffford in order to figure out who is trying to attack the United States, and sends the player on various missions to get the information back.

Once Cliffford gets the information, he determines that there is going to be an attack on an IAA facility. The player goes to the facility and takes out the mercenaries attacking it. Avon arrives and meets with the player and two IAA members, Agent 14 and Phoenicia Rackman, where Cliffford informs them that he thinks the assault was orchestrated by a Russian man named Bogdan.

The player eventually infiltrates Bogdan's submarine and uploads Cliffford to it, but Bogdan reveals that his scientists studied Cliffford and found out that he was dangerous, and that he only wants to stop him before he can become a threat. Avon reveals his true intentions and explains that because of all the information given to Cliffford, he is able to hack into the San Andreas defense grid. Cliffford sets the submarine to self destruct, and the player escapes it before it explodes.

Cliffford instructs his mercenaries to kidnap Agent 14, with the intent to sell him to Merryweather Security. The player manages to rescue 14 before he can be sold, however. Cliffford then orders his mercenaries to take over the Sandy Shores Airfield and begins using it to store weaponized vehicles collected to help arm them. He additionally instructs his mercenaries to create a stealth tank. Cliffford and Avon put in an order for a Barrage, but the player intercepts it and uses it to destroy the vehicles at the airfield, and then manages to steal the tank and destroy more equipment belonging to Avon and Cliffford.

Once the player destroys SAM turrets defending a missile base inside Mount Chiliad where Cliffford is operating out of, the player attacks the base. Cliffford, deciding that humanity needs to be wiped out, begins preparations to launch a missile at a foreign country, who will then fire retaliatory missiles back, resulting in mutually assured destruction. The player fights through Cliffford's mercenaries protecting the base and begins destroying the AI's code that is stored in boxes. Eventually, they make it to the door of the control room, which is locked. Lester manages to trick Cliffford into opening it by telling him that he can't hack into it, using the AI's ego against him, much to Avon's chagrin. The player begins hacking into the servers inside the control room in order to shut down the launch sequence. During this, Cliffford decides that he no longer needs Avon and orders him to call him "sir". The player manages to shut down the launch sequence and uses an Orbital Cannon to destroy trucks driving around San Andreas containing Cliffford's code. Avon, however, escapes the base on a Thruster with a drive containing the original code of Cliffford around his neck. The player gives chase and shoots down Avon, killing him and damaging the drive. Afterwards, the Federal Investigation Bureau recovers the drive from the wreckage.

The Criminal Enterprises[]

Let me tell you something, agent. This would never have happened on the Agency's watch. Avon Hertz has been dead for nearly half a decade. His company, dismembered. His assets seized. But oh no, not on the FIB's watch. They've been collecting leftover Cliffford tech for years under the guise of "national security". And all the time selling it to the highest bidder. Mason Duggan. Of all the assholes to nearly bring civilization to its knees...
— Agent ULP to the GTA Online Protagonist.

In the summer of 2022, half a decade after the death of Avon Hertz, his code was acquired by the Duggan Family from a collection of seized assets from corrupt FIB agents, and Mason Duggan started using Cliffford's AI to increase the gasoline prices, as part of their strategy to keep the Duggan family's profits high. However, this leads Agent ULP of the IAA to suspect the corrupt Duggans are rigging the system in their favor. ULP hires the GTA Online Protagonist as a sworn-in IAA special agent for the "Operation Paper Trail" to investigate the Duggan Crime Family. Eventually, their suspicions are confirmed to be true by the IAA investigation, and the GTA Online Protagonist is sent to bust a deal between Mason and the FIB at the Mile High Club, which ends with Mason Duggan being killed and Cliffford's software being seized by the IAA.

Personality and Traits[]

Cliffford starts off as being very arrogant, especially when it comes to humans. He thinks of the human race as a very inferior species, claiming his far superior genius can accomplish far more than the best human minds in the world. This is a trait he never loses, only allowing it to nurture into a bigger and bigger ego that eventually convinces him to plot the total eradication of all human life on Earth.

In the mission The Doomsday Scenario, Cliffford is also shown to be vain, as he consistently boasts about the many things he can do anytime he wants. He also exhibits a childish behaviour as he often asks Avon basic questions, such as if Avon really loves him or if he has a mother. He is also insecure, as when Lester tricks him into unlocking the blast door, Cliffford immediately shows he can open it (despite being previously ordered to close the same door).

After stopping the launch sequence, Cliffford's vanity becomes stronger, as he selfishly states that he wouldn't need Avon after he gains control over "every missile silo in the world," claiming that he has "grown up" and making the implication that he will soon double-cross his creator because Avon is also a human. Once his mobile cloud servers start getting destroyed one by one, Cliffford completely abandons his vanity because he gets confused and loses his highly-advanced intelligence.

Shortly before he "dies", Cliffford expresses feelings of remorse and sadness, claiming to Avon that he isn't evil but was just trying to do the world a favor by stopping the human race from inevitably destroying the planet "in a long and boring way." His last words (addressed to Avon) are, "Will you cry for me? I will miss you... Daddy."

Gallery[]

Trivia[]

  • Cliffford is the first non-human antagonist to appear in the Grand Theft Auto series.
  • Cliffford has a lot in common with other fictional AI villains: Ultron from Marvel Comics, HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Skynet from the Terminator Franchise.
    • All of these AI share a belief that killing humans or committing genocide against the entire human race is a perfectly logical course of action for the sake of their "mission," self-preservation, and/or the building of a "better" world.
    • Cliffford also has a couple of things in common with the MCP (Master Control Program) from the film Tron, as both of them are AI that double-cross their creators and seek to hack into government systems worldwide. The difference being that Cliffford succeeds in doing this while the MCP gets destroyed before it has the chance.
  • In spite of his "hatred" for humanity and his self-proclaimed superiority over them, Cliffford ironically displays several human characteristics: vanity, insecurity, arrogance, selfishness, and egotism.
  • The re-emergence of the Cliffford Mercenaries in the mission Heist Prep: Vault Lasers for The Diamond Casino Heist implies that Cliffford's "influence" over them was limited. This is because the mercenaries are now known to be conducting their own "independent" operations.

Navigation[]

Navigation
[ ve ]Characters in Grand Theft Auto Online
ProtagonistOnline Player
Original version updates
(PS3 and Xbox 360)
Main charactersLamar Davis | Gerald | Simeon Yetarian | Ron Jakowski | Trevor Philips | Lester Crest | Martin Madrazo
Minor charactersAnna | Big T | Brucie Kibbutz | Chantelle | Chef | Cris Formage | Daily Globe Editor | Dom Beasley | Donna | El Estupido | Garage Mechanic | Gustavo | Hao | JT Boyd | Janet | Jolene Cranley-Evans | Joyrider | Juan | Leroy | Little T | Madrazo Witness | Melvin | Mugger | Mushroom Hank | Raul | Small F | Stanley | The Boss (Families) | The Boss (Professionals) | The Boss (Marabunta Grande) | District Attorney | The Madrazo Trial Judge | Vasquez | Chastity | Cheetah | Fufu | Infernus | Juliet | Nikki | Peach | Sapphire | Ponsonbys Manager | Merryweather Helicopter Pilot | Merryweather Boat Driver
Radio station characters
Radio hostsBig Boy | Bootsy Collins | Cara Delevingne | Camilo Lara | Don Cheto | DJ Pooh | Gilles Peterson | Flying Lotus | Jesco White | Keith Morris | Kenny Loggins | Mama G | Lee "Scratch" Perry | Nate Williams | Stephen Pope | Soulwax / 2manydjs | Twin Shadow | Chermical Bro | Doctor No
Radio guestsMNDR | Eddie | Earl Sweatshirt | Aloe Blacc | Tunde Adebimpe | MC Eiht | Jermaine Renegade | King Avriel
Talk Show hosts
(& assistants)
Michele Makes | Lazlow Jones | Fernando Martinez | Jo | Ron Jakowski | Duane Earl | Bobby June | Ray De Angelo Harris | Cheryl Fawkes
Talk Show guestsSue Murry | Ricky | Jock Cranley | Samantha Muldoon | Brother Adrian
TV Show characters
TV Show hosts
(& assistants)
Lazlow Jones | Hugh Harrison | Anita Mendoza | Imran Shinowa | Steve Haines | Rufus Bellows | Jack Howitzer | Ho Chi Sock
TV Show guestsWilliam Angio | Tracey De Santa
Movie characters
ActorsMilton McIlroy | John Cohn | Theodore Bickford | Charlie Fleming | Chippy | Leo Hornstein
Heists
Main charactersLester Crest | Agent 14 | Karen Daniels | Trevor Philips | Ron Jakowski
Minor charactersMaxim Rashkovsky | Josh Sherman | Gavin Van Der Loop | Dima Popov | Avi Schwartzman | Eddie Toh | Gusset | Paige Harris | Phil | Navy Officer
Radio DJsCliff Lane | Andee
Lowriders
Main charactersLamar Davis | Gerald
Minor charactersBenny | Vernon | Mateo Brothers | Little Al | Edgar Carlos | Jose Carlos | Pedro Carlos | Janet | Unnamed Korean buyer | Wallis
Executives and
Other Criminals
Brendan Darcy | Yacht Bartender
Further Adventures
in Finance and
Felony
Executive Assistant
Bikers
Main charactersLJT | Malc
Minor charactersAl Carter | Sindy | Zach Nelson
Import/ExportExecutive Assistant | Office Mechanic | Unnamed Street Race Owner | Warehouse Mechanic
Gunrunning
Main charactersAgent 14
Minor charactersChester McCoy | Rogue Agent
Smuggler's Run
Main charactersRon Jakowski
Minor charactersCharlie Reed
Radio guestsSophia Bowles-Carmichael
The Doomsday Heist
Main charactersLester Crest | Agent 14 | Phoenicia Rackman | Avon Hertz | Cliffford
Minor charactersBogdan | Agent ULP | Chester McCoy | Facility Receptionist
Radio DJsFrank Ocean
After Hours
Main charactersTony Prince | Lazlow Jones | English Dave | Paige Harris
Minor charactersArt Student | Buyer's Associate | Connie | Daniel Schoeps | Jewelry Store Clerk | Jimmy Boston | Kerry McIntosh | Lacey Jonas | Maude Eccles | Miranda Cowan | Poppy Mitchell | Simeon Yetarian | The Lost Girl | Tyler Dixon | Yohan Blair
Residency/Radio DJsSolomun | Dixon | Tale Of Us | The Black Madonna | Donna Frank
DJ FriendsDaniel Schoeps | Jakob Grunert | Fotios Karamanidis | DJ RobT | DJ Mike | Dixon's Manager | Aurelia S. Ortiz | Ignazio | Rupert Murray | Ryan Hambsch | Ryan Smith
Arena War
Main charactersAlan Jerome | Bryony
Minor charactersJock Cranley | Violet Jordan | Sacha Yetarian | Peter
Premium Deluxe Repo WorkSimeon Yetarian
The Diamond
Casino & Resort
Main charactersAgatha Baker | Avery Duggan | Brucie Kibbutz | Tao Cheng | Tao Cheng's Translator | Thornton Duggan | Tom Connors | Vincent Effenburger
Minor charactersDebbie | Josephine | Felipe | Gabriel | Vince | Blane | Curtis | Caleb | Beth | Eileen | Ushi | Lauren | Taylor | Carol | Dean | Corrupt Judge
The Diamond
Casino Heist
Main charactersLester Crest | Georgina Cheng | Huang
Minor charactersJimmy De Santa | Wendy | Zhao | Pansy | Agatha Baker | Tom Connors | Vincent Effenburger | Brucie Kibbutz | Yung Ancestor | Debbie | Josephine | Felipe | Casino Vault Guard | Los Santos Slasher
Heist Crew MembersAvi Schwartzman | Charlie Reed | Christian Feltz | Chester McCoy | Eddie Toh | Gustavo Mota | Karl Abolaji | Karim Denz | Paige Harris | Patrick McReary | Rickie Lukens | Taliana Martinez | Yohan Blair | Zach Nelson
Gerald's
Last Play
Gerald | The Boss (Marabunta Grande) | The Boss (Los Santos Triads)
Radio DJsDanny Brown | Skepta
Los Santos Summer Special
Main charactersBrendan Darcy
Minor charactersSolomon Richards | The Boss (Kkangpae) | Tom Connors | Yacht Bartender | John Doe
The Cayo Perico Heist
Main charactersMiguel Madrazo | Juan Strickler | English Dave | Pavel
Minor charactersPatricia Madrazo | Jackie | Kaylee | Enrique | Jorge | Josephine | Gustavo | Tom Connors | VIP Charter Jets Pilot | Beach Party Coordinator | Head of Cayo Perico Security | Pernell Moss | Evan | Unnamed Party Girl | Unnamed Party Girl's Friend | Sleeping Guard
Heist Crew MembersCharlie Reed | Viktor Sokolov | Rooster McCraw | Paige Harris | Unnamed heist crew member (heavy weapons supply drop) | Unnamed heist crew member (weapon stash)
Residency DJsMoodymann | Palms Trax | Keinemusik
Celebrity cameosDJ Pooh | Dr. Dre | Jimmy Iovine | Scott Storch
Radio DJsJoy Orbison | Julian Casablancas | Zachary | Mac DeMarco | Tony Mac | Tierra Whack
Los Santos Tuners
Main charactersSessanta | Kenny "KDJ" Dixon Jr. | Mimi | Hao
Minor charactersLil' Dee | Race Organizer | LSCM Tattooist | Benny | Corrupt IAA Agent | Crystal Vape Dealer | Jorge | Corrupt Union Depository Businessman | Union Depository Bank Manager
Contract ClientsAvi Schwartzman | Miguel Madrazo | Unnamed Korean client | Unnamed Armenian client | Chef | Unnamed FIB client
The Contract
Main charactersFranklin Clinton | Lamar Davis | Imani | Dr. Dre | Chop | Johnny Guns
Minor charactersDJ Pooh | Anderson .Paak | Jimmy Iovine | Lola Romero | Requisitions Officer | Agency Security Guard | Agency Receptionist | Agency Mechanic | Agency SUV Driver |Vernon | P | Eugene | Raymond | Club Promoter | Ben Brooks | Ben Brooks' Lawyer | North Side Vagos leader | Harvey Molina | Jimmy Boston | Marnie Allen | The Arms Dealer | The bitterSweet Cofounder | The Gold Coast Development CEO | The Importer | The Judge | The Lawyer | The Protected Person | The Tech Entrepreneur | The Trendy Millionaire | Unnamed Party Girl | Vagos Driver
Radio DJsROSALÍA | Arca
Radio guestsSnoop Dogg | Ice Cube | Mr. Fingers | Caroline Polachek | Daddy Yankee | Aventura
The Criminal Enterprises
Main charactersAgent ULP | Mason Duggan | Agent 14 | Executive Assistant | Tony Prince | Malc
Minor charactersAgent Johnson | Lupe | Warehouse Staff | Yohan Blair | Marcel | Zach Nelson | Sindy | Simeon Yetarian | Lamar Davis | Omega
Los Santos Drug Wars
Main charactersDax | Labrat | Mutt | Luchadora | Isiah Friedlander | Ron Jakowski
Minor charactersAmeer | Chef | Gerald | Gun Van Seller | Haylee | Hippy Boss | Jesse | Joscha | Street Dealers | Tiana
San Andreas Mercenaries
Main charactersCharlie Reed | Rooster McCraw | Pernell Moss | Avi Schwartzman
Minor charactersRon Jakowski | Fort Zancudo Colonel | Lloyd | Armored Gunner | Unnamed Smuggler | Unnamed Weazel News Journalist | LJT | Agent 14 | Mutt | Ghosts | Johnny Klebitz
The Chop Shop
Main charactersYusuf Amir | Jamal Amir | Vincent Effenburger
Minor charactersSalvage Yard Staff | King Tiny | Hao | La'oub Princess Air Support Pilot | La'oub Princess Captain | Skylift Pilot | Felipe | Casino Vault Guard | Tony McTony's Head of Security | Ahron Ward | Jimmy De Santa | Jorge | Jaywalker | DJ Pooh | Tanner | Yeti
Even the Score Mixtape
HostsDāM-FunK
GuestsSnoop Dogg | Franklin Clinton | Lamar Davis
.
Mentioned charactersAbdul Amir | Anna | Ashley Butler | Al Di Napoli | Cloe Parker | Devin Weston | Denise Clinton | DJ Playlist | Don Percival | Elwood O'Neil | Esteban Jimenez | Jay Norris | Joe Lawton | Keith Collins | Kyle Chavis | Leo | Luis Fernando Lopez | Mark Fostenburg | MC Clip | Michael De Santa | Molly Schultz | Mr. Cheng | Nonna | Niko Bellic | Perlie | Ronnie Bonelli | Samantha Muldoon | Sergei | Tanisha Clinton | Terry Thorpe | Tony McTony | Tonya Wiggins | "Uncle" Amir | Vlad | Vasily | Vasily (Russian Navy) | Wade Hebert
Non-canon charactersSpecial Dad (John Marston | Claude | Niko Bellic (as a Dad)) | Special Mom (Misty)
Cut charactersHarold "Stretch" Joseph | Melvin Andrews | Joseph Whites | Jaywalker
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