In Chappie, the newly conscious police robot receives the nickname Chappie.
Chappie is an experimental artificial intelligence installed in a decommissioned police robot by engineer Deon Wilson. Deon has developed a program capable of genuine machine consciousness, but the robot is stolen before the experiment can be safely controlled. Criminals Yolandi and Ninja then raise Chappie in their household, treating the machine as a child who must learn language, behavior, and survival.
The film explores whether consciousness can develop through education and experience rather than biological birth. Chappie's personality is shaped by several competing influences: Deon's scientific goals, Yolandi's affection, and Ninja's criminal worldview.
The designation Scout refers to the type of police robot used in the film, not the character's personal name. Chappie is also the title character, played through motion capture by Sharlto Copley.