Overview

• The term debuted in the 2005 Star Wars game Republic Commando and gained wider popularity through the 2008 Clone Wars series.
• Google Trends recorded a sudden spike in early June searches for “clanker” as online users began applying it to modern automation tools.
• A TikTok clip of a delivery robot receiving the epithet has tallied over six million views, fueling mainstream awareness of the slur.
• On X, Sen. Ruben Gallego cited “clanker” in legislation designed to guarantee callers the option to speak to a human customer service agent.
• A Gartner survey finds 64% of customers oppose AI in service roles and 53% would switch companies over its use, with linguists warning the term’s usage mirrors classic slurs and reveals deep-seated tech anxieties.