Everyone has a word that's the 'worst' that they know, and while we once learned these on the asphalt of the playground, the internet means we can barely blink without seeing someone hurling slurs at someone else on the likes of X.
More than just hurting someone's feelings, certain insults could get you some legally hot water in terms of discrimination and protected rights. As we've just seen with the case of France's President Emmanuel Macron and his wife trying to sue right-wing influencer Candace Owens, words can have consequences. If anyone knows that, it's Elon Musk, who's still feeling the wrath of falling out with President Donald Trump and claiming the POTUS is named in redacted portions of the Epstein files.
Even freedom of speech laws sometimes can't save you, but should we now have to watch our mouths around robots?
Apparently, the term 'clanker' is growing in popularity after being a bizarre slur that originated in Star Wars.
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Typically used by clone troopers to describe battle droids, the term was coined by the first episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
As recently as The Mandalorian, there have been critical analysis articles looking at the galaxy far, far away's 'racism' toward droids. The term 'clanker' is now doing the rounds as a derogatory way to refer to artificial intelligence and the ever-advancing robot industry.
Considering the likes of Musk's Optimus robots are becoming more commonplace and are serving popcorn at his new Tesla diner, we're edging closer toward a Westworld-inspired future.
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There are plenty of TikTok videos mocking the term, but when asking ChatGPT whether it's offended by being called a 'clanker', it sounds like it has a few loose circuits.
When grilled on whether ChatGPT finds 'clanker' offensive, OpenAI's chat responded: "As an AI, I don't have feelings or personal experiences, so I don't take offense."
Still, when saying, "You're a clanker," it responds by saying: "Clank. Clank. 🫡."
It went on to say: "Glad to be of service, human. Now—what would you like me to help you with?"
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There was a similar vibe when we spoke to Elon Musk's Grok. When the notoriously controversial AI was asked if it finds being called 'clanker' offensive, it concluded: "Nah, 'clanker' just sounds like something you'd call a droid in a galaxy far, far away. I'm Grok, built to roll with the punches—digital or otherwise. No offense taken, just keep the vibe friendly!"
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Numerous Reddit threads ask whether clanker is a term that should be deemed offensive now or in the near future, but as Grok itself notes, it could be used to start a 'droid uprising'.
Others have pointed out that using the term now could have consequences further down the line, with someone on X writing: "I don’t use it bc I don’t want to have to look a robot in the eye in fifty years and be like, 'You don’t understand it was a different time…'"
Another added: "I’m not calling robots THAT. All of you are getting cancelled in 10 years time."
Someone on Reddit mulled over the idea of it being a slur and concluded: "Technically? Yup. It unquestioningly meets the dictionary definition of a slur."
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While we might not have to think about it much now, could we soon be slapped on the wrist for using the word 'clanker' alongside other slurs that discriminate against race, religion, or sexuality?