Robot Or Not?

They are boats with paddles. What else are they? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Straight out of “Star Trek” come these technological villains. Also, we discuss larger issues including AIs and hive minds. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

It just keeps going, and going, and going…. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Little cute robots from “Ghost in the Shell.” John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Self-guided rockets and drone barges. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

They’re sure tasty, and it’s meat between bread, but are hot dogs sandwiches? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

They sure look like robots. But who’s under the masks? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The owl and the snake from “Blade Runner” raise some interesting questions. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

A little metal owl from “Clash of the Titans.” Crafted by the gods, can he possibly be a robot? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The robot from “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, plus a long digression into Star Trek androids. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Is all animation “cartoons”?

Two beloved metal creatures from animation.

That “Robo” prefix is sure interesting, and he’s probably a cop, but…

Bender, Calculon, and Hedonismbot.

He fights for the users inside a computer. Can software people be robots?

A fancy “robot arm” from Canada. But when is a robot arm just an arm, and when is it a robot?

Part animal, part machine. But is it a robot?

Please obey robot.

It’s Wimbledon time, and so our discussion turns to tennis, and Serena Williams—who is not a robot, despite her perhaps wishing she was.

Karel Capek’s play that made this podcast possible.