
“Have you ever noticed the popularity of white robots? The reason for these shades of technological white may be racism, according to new research,” CNN said on Twitter.
Have you ever noticed the popularity of white robots? The reason for these shades of technological white may be racism, according to new research. https://t.co/PHJHO91VtA
— CNN (@CNN) August 1, 2019
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Seriously.
The tweet on Thursday links to a story headlined, “Robot racism? Yes, says a study showing humans’ biases extend to robots.”
“Robots And Racism,” a study conducted by the Human Interface Technology Laboratory in New Zealand (HIT Lab NZ) and published by the country’s University of Canterbury, suggests people perceive physically human-like robotsto have a race and therefore apply racial stereotypes to white and black robots.
These colors have been found to trigger social cues that determine how humans react to and behave toward other people and also, apparently, robots
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“The bias against black robots is a result of bias against African-Americans,” lead researcher Christoph Bartneck explained to The Next Web. He told CNN, “It is amazing to see how people who had no prior interaction with robots show racial bias towards them.”
In the study, the researchers wrote this: “If robots are supposed to function as teachers, friends, or carers, for instance, then it will be a serious problem if all of these roles are only ever occupied by robots that are racialized as White.”
Donald Trump Jr. couldn’t resist.
Hey @CNN, someone must have hacked your account. Not even you guys could come up with something so stupid. #RacistRobots,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Hey @CNN, someone must have hacked your account. Not even you guys could come up with something so stupid. #RacistRobots https://t.co/k27qMh467f
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 1, 2019
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That opened up a huge can of worms.
I can’t find a white comb anywhere!
— robert wolfe (@lobster_byte) August 1, 2019
Some wags noted that most toilets are white.
Have you ever noticed the popularity of white toilets? Or is CNN too busy sourcing material from them to care? https://t.co/9kVXmoZOGI
— Steven Crowder (@scrowder) August 1, 2019
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One Twitterer pointed out that the moon is white. Others noted that nearly everything Apple sells is white.
And one person got straight to the point.
“Come to think of it I’ve been #Racist for a long time. In fact my tubs, toilets, dishes are racist. I have racist vehicles, my wife has racist kitchen cabinets and we both got racist dental procedures. OMG, I’m a racist and didn’t know it!”
Come to think of it I’ve been #Racist for a long time. In fact my tubs, toilets, dishes are racist. I have racist vehicles, my wife has racist kitchen cabinets and we both got racist dental procedures. OMG, I’m a racist and didn’t know it!
— ChrisM (@CJMbolo) August 1, 2019
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