The name for “robot” has dark origins

Robots are arguably the most common element in sci-fi (sorry, aliens, you were a close second!). The robots we see on the big screen and read about are portrayed in all different types of ways. Some are fun and happy, others gloomy or dangerous. However, the word ‘robot’ has some dark origins. Originally coming from an Old Church Slavonic word, robota, the word’s meaning was “forced labor” or “servitude”. Robots are commonly depicted as having no free will, so this description makes some sense.