What’s All the Fuss About...
Clankers
Be careful how you use this insult – robots have a long memory
What are they?
It’s an insult used to describe AI tools and robots that don’t perform as well as intended. It’s become increasingly popular online in 2025, as people question whether technology is heading in the right direction amid a growing AI backlash.
So definitely nothing to do with Clangers then?
No, they remain as adorable as when Oliver Postgate first invited us to meet them in the late 1960s. By contrast, clankers are chatbots that always give you incorrect answers; AI tools that clutter your browser and desktop; and domestic robots that frequently malfunction.