From automated to autonomous, will the real robots please stand up?

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If I tell you that I saw a robot today, what comes to mind? What is a robot?

This is not a trick question.

Robots in science fiction

Because we've seen so many robots. We've seen Robbie the Robot from the 1956 movie Forbidden Planet, Rosie the housekeeper from The Jetsons, the animated Gigantor, C-3PO and R2-D2 from late 1970s Star Wars, Optimus Prime, Data from Star Trek, Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Terminator, or later robots like Wall-E, Dolores (and all the synths) from Westworld, and all the rest of the robots in the various Star Wars spin-offs.

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Automation is coming, whether it's new software powered by machine-learning or Tesla's Optimus robots in factories. How will it enhance human work, personal lives, as well as increase productivity and economic activity? We'll explore that, along with the impact on jobs and the kind of labor that will be needed from people exclusively.

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All of these, together, have built up our view of robots over the years, at least in movies and TV.

We're also familiar with the stories these robots tell. Data from Star Trek just wants to be more human. Isaac from The Orville is a Kaylon, a race of robots that destroy organic creatures. (Yet Isaac's path has been one of redemption, for he's a compassionate Kaylon and helps turn the tide for organics.) The Star Wars robots, especially those designed for merchandising, have become friends and companions to their organic buddies.

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