The word clanker has been previously used in science fiction literature, first appearing in a 1958 article by William Tenn in which he uses it to describe robots from science fiction films like Metropolis.[2] The Star Wars franchise began using the term "clanker" as a slur against droids in the 2005 video game Star Wars: Republic Commando before being prominently used in the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which follows a galaxy-wide war between the Galatic Republic's clone troopers and the Confederacy of Independent Systems' battle droids.[3] In Star Wars media, robots—known more commonly as "droids"—are routinely depicted as the subjects of discrimination. For example, in the original Star Wars film, C-3PO and R2-D2 are abducted by Jawas and sold to the family of Luke Skywalker. When visiting a cantina in Mos Eisley, both robots are refused by the bartender, who remarks that "We don't serve their kind."[3][4] In Star Wars lore, the "clanker" term exists as far back as the galaxy's High Republic Era[4] but found prominence during the Clone Wars, in which clone troopers regularly used the phrase against Separatist battle droids.[5]
AI backlash
The growing popularity of the slur "clanker" reflects an increase in direct contact between people and artificial systems.[6][7] On sidewalks, delivery robots impede mobility and cause safety issues.[8] In digital spaces, cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about the rising number of bots online, which now make up a large portion of internet traffic. Some reports estimate that about one in five social media accounts are automated.[9]
The term is also a reaction to AI advocacy from industrialists like Elon Musk and Sam Altman, who have championed the integration of artificial intelligence into nearly every aspect of modern life. This includes efforts by major tech companies and startups alike, such as Amazon's development of humanoid robots, to replace human workers in service industries. Such initiatives have further fueled public skepticism, reinforcing the association of "clanker" with unease over automation and the displacement of human roles.[1] A global survey conducted by the research firm Gartner found that 64% of customers would rather companies avoid using AI in customer service, with another 53% stating they would consider switching to a different company if they discovered AI was handling their service interactions.[9]
Criticism has also been directed at the technology itself. Some of the backlash stems from concerns about the resource intensity of AI systems, their frequent reliance on copyrighted material without consent, and questions about the intentions of the corporations behind them. Additionally, researchers have begun to highlight potential cognitive effects of relying too heavily on AI. An MIT study found that shifting mental tasks onto AI systems can lead to measurable reductions in memory performance and neural activity. Another study, authored by researchers at Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University, warns that regular dependence on AI may leave users mentally unprepared for real-world problem solving, likening the effect to cognitive atrophy.[10]
In June 2025, United States SenatorRuben Gallego (D-AZ) tweeted that his "new bill makes sure you don't have to talk to a clanker if you don't want to," referring to proposed legislation that would require call centers to disclose their use of automated customer service agents to callers in the United States and offer the option to switch to a human representative.[11]
Analysis
Linguist Adam Aleksic has described clanker as an evolution of racial slurs that anthropomorphizes robotic systems.[12][13]Internet memes incorporating the term often reference historical discrimination against marginalized groups such as African Americans.[9][12] Based on the work of linguist Geoffrey Nunberg, Axios has argued that clanker is merely a derogatory word, rather than a slur, because it does not perpetuate social inequities.[7]
While other science fiction media includes pejoratives for robots, such as "skinjob" and "toaster" from the Blade Runner and Battlestar Galactica franchises, respectively, clanker is believed to have gained popularity because its usage is intuitive and flexible.[9][14] Whereas AI slop describes low-quality output from artificial intelligence, clanker belittles the underlying robotic systems.[14]
See also
Look up clanker in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
AI takeover– Hypothetical outcome of artificial intelligence
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