clanker

American  

[klangk-er] / ˈklæŋk ər /

noun

plural

clankers

1. Slang. a robot, chatbot, or AI app (often derogatory).

2. Slang. any piece of technology that is old, worthless, or in poor condition.

3. Slang. a lie or fib.

4. Slang. a flop or failure.

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Example Sentences

For example "clanker", a term used to describe robots in Star Wars games and movies since the mid 2000s, made the list after it went viral on TikTok in July as people shared their frustrations with AI-powered machines.

From BBC

The term clanker reflects a certain real unease about robots and A.I. coming for our jobs, as well as our annoyance at having to talk to robot voices instead of human customer service representatives.

From Slate

In the end, mocking clanker lovers is really about mocking the loneliness that drives people toward machines in the first place.

From Slate

The term, for all its silliness, has inspired a sort of spinoff—“clanker lover”—which, in theory, should carry more of a sting, since it’s aimed at actual humans.

From Slate

This isn’t a cutesy adventure where the machine makes bippity-boop noises to communicate or a “Transformers” clanker where it folds into human form.

From Los Angeles Times