TechnologyAugust 21, 2026

robotoid

ROH-buh-toyd

Definition

Resembling a robot in behavior, communication style, or identity; specifically used here to describe a state where humans alter their own personality or expression to better align with the predictable, constrained feedback loops of AI systems.

Etymology

The word is a combination of the word 'robot,' derived from the Czech 'robota' meaning forced labor or servitude, and the suffix '-oid,' from the Greek 'oeidēs' meaning having the form or appearance of.

In the news

The authors use the term 'robotoid humanness' to describe a subtle existential shift where individuals unconsciously reshape their own behavior and identity to be more easily understood and processed by AI algorithms.

Are You in Danger of Becoming a Robot?

Read the full article ↗

Nautilus | Science

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.