If there is one thing about which science-fiction films, TV shows, and books have been very clear for decades, it is this: Robots are getting smarter and more powerful by the day, and eventually they will usurp the entire planet, grabbing it away from humanity with their powerful metal claws. Giving human-like intelligence to machines is nearly always a terrible idea, a few isolated success stories (Bender, C-3PO) aside. But now, thanks to irresponsible scientists and engineers, the genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. There is no going back.
One of the clearest warnings of this crisis was sounded by comedian Steve Harvey’s daytime talk show back in September 2012. During Harvey’s premiere episode, one of his first guests was “social roboticist” Heather Knight, who brought along her wisecracking robot pal, Data. This uppity bag of bolts came billed as a “stand-up comedian,” a job traditionally and rightly held by human beings. (Okay, sure, there’s Fozzie. But at least he’s a mammal.)