Why Bender from Futurama is NOT a Robot
Many believe that Bender, one of the main characters from the popular series “Futurama” fits the basic definition and aspects of what a robot is considered. Many quote Bender as a robot, but if following the definition of a robot versus what is described as an “automaton” by Jean Baudrillard in “The Automaton and The Robot”, the conclusion can be made that Bender should be considered an automaton instead. Bender insists on be self-acting throughout the show going about his life the way he sees fit, not following a pre-determined set function. Bender’s more so “free will” to go about his day mostly how he see fits such as a human, and his strives to be "human-like" deem him more characteristically an automaton than a robot, according to Baudrillard’s thinking.
