In Search of a Narrative for Human–Robot Relationships

Abstract

Fictional robots in literature and film have shaped our cultural image of robots. This paper studies what these images can contribute to our relationship with the real robots that are now entering our everyday lives. A review of science fiction literature and films comes to the conclusion that the predominant theme of the fictional robots – mostly androids and replicants – has been human identity, not robotics itself. Non-humanoid “just-robots” are presented as unproblematic sidekicks. It is argued that this focus has as consequence a tendency toward humanizing even non-humanoid robots in their presentation to the public. This tendency leads to a) breakdowns where technology contradicts the humanoid narrative, and b) a lack of productive narratives about emerging, more complex human-robot relationships.