Maciej Cegłowski:
Most of you know that the word “robot” comes from a 1920 play by Karel Čapek.
I finally read this play and was surprised to learn that the robots in it were not mechanical beings. They were made of flesh and bone, just like people, except that were assembled instead of being born.
Čapek’s robots resemble human beings but don’t feel pain or fear, and focus only on their jobs.
In other words, they’re the ideal employee.
…
Nobody wants the responsibility; everybody wants the control.