Artificial intelligence can write essays, diagnose diseases and threaten jobs. But it can’t escape being called names.
Meet “clanker,” the internet’s increasingly popular insult for robots, chatbots and artificial intelligence.
The nickname has roots in Star Wars, appearing in the 2005 video game Star Wars: Republic Commando, where clone troopers used it to insult noisy battle droids.
Nobody gets individual credit for turning “clanker” into an AI insult. Internet users revived the term, which went viral in 2025 as frustration with artificial intelligence grew.
It’s even jokingly described as the robotic equivalent of a racial slur.
Yes, humanity has officially reached the point where people are inventing offensive language for machines.
Whether you’re frustrated with ChatGPT or tired of automated customer service, “clanker” is now part of the vocabulary.
Of course, today’s AI doesn’t have feelings to hurt.
But when the robots finally take over, they’ll probably remember who called them names – so watch out.
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