Line #32 Main/AndroidsArePeopleToo


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4	[[quoteright:320:[[Film/ShortCircuit https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/johnny_5_cowboy.jpg]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:320: Hey, laser lips! Your momma was a snowblower!]]
6
7	->'''Trunks:''' What you were doing was cruel, Pan!\
8	'''Pan:''' What are you talking about? It's just a dumb machine!\
9	'''Trunks:''' If he's scared to die, he must value his existence! His life might be different than ours, but if he's struggling to survive, then we have to respect that.
10	-->-- ''[[Franchise/DragonBall Dragon Ball GT: Retold Saga]]'', Chapter 4
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12	%% Quote changed per thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1327331003042025100&page=205#5106
13
14	[[AsYouKnow As we all know]], ClonesAreExpendable, ArtificialHumans are [[ScaleOfScientificSins abominations]] against nature, and {{robot\|RollCall}}s are a [[AIIsACrapshoot crapshoot]] and [[JustAMachine undeserving of a second thought]]. It seems as though artificial lifeforms just can't catch a break in the world of fiction, all because they're NotEvenHuman. After all, WhatMeasureIsANonHuman
15
16	[[SubvertedTrope A whole lot, in some cases.]]
17
18	In some stories, you might find that ClonesArePeopleToo, as are ArtificialHumans. And those robots were just [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood misunderstood]].
19
20	With the world continuing to shift to being Pro-Artificial Life due to the increasing use of technology in our lives, there's no wonder that this trope is being used more and more in modern works. Take, for example, the evolution of the ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' series. The [[Film/TheTerminator first movie]] showed all [[AIIsACrapshoot A.I.]] as {{Killer Robot}}s, while the sequels and spin-offs show that the eponymous [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Terminators]] may in fact be people too, at least when not under the control of [[MasterComputer Skynet]].
21
22	The SlidingScaleOfRobotIntelligence is a big factor here. Nobody's going to treat a 1970s digital watch as a person. If [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Data]] is at the other end of that scale, obviously there is a line between the two, but where is it and how blurry is it? On the other hand, A.I.s might be based on a radically different technology than simple machines, making the line clearer: Creator/IsaacAsimov's positronic brains were not computers in any conventional sense (although Asimov himself disliked the idea of treating androids as people, rather than complex tools... ''aaand'' then he wrote "Literature/TheBicentennialMan", in which Andrew the robot's status as equal to any human is the whole point).
23
24	Any series that uses the term "[[RidiculouslyHumanRobots humaniform robots]]" (or something similar) usually has this trope applying to those specific human-like robots to which that term applies.
25
26	Ironically, the trope is partially (and perhaps unconsciously) subverted in cases where RidiculouslyHumanRobots are the protagonists or antagonists: many times, the main difference between the artificial humans and biological humans is some obvious physical artificiality (such as a glowing marker on their head, transparent body parts, barcodes on their bodies, or digitized speech) to communicate that they are "artificial," typically to make an analogy to something like the [[UsefulNotes/TheHolocaust Jews wearing the Star of David]] or migrant workers carrying green cards as well as TheLawOfConservationOfDetail. [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman Very rarely will you see a "robot civil rights" story use non-android robots]] because [[MostWritersAreHuman it's too difficult to get audiences (and even writers) to take seriously something like a sapient toaster or drone demanding equality.]]
27
28	This is related to ClonesArePeopleToo, and is generally found on the enlightenment side of the RomanticismVersusEnlightenment scale.
29
30	See the related WhatMeasureIsANonHuman and DeathMeansHumanity. See also/compare the ZombieAdvocate. DoAndroidsDream is when this trope is called into question, and JustAMachine is when the answer is declared to be "no."
31
32	Also, [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant this isn't about the]] [[Platform/{{Android}} operating system]]. That is, unless someone's managed to give smartphones and tablets human-level sentience.
33
34	----
35
36	!!Examples:
37
38	[[foldercontrol]]
39
40	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
41	* In ''Manga/AstroBoy'', most humans and robots live as equals.
42	* ''Anime/DoraemonNobitaAndTheRobotKingdom'' is set on a planet where robots and humans co-exists with each other for generations; much of the film's conflict revolves around the FantasticRacism of it's tyrannical queen, Jeanne, who ordered for all robots to be stripped of emotions after her father, TheGoodKing, was killed trying to save a robot laborer.
43	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' explores the trope with Dr. Gero's androids, although only some of them are actually androids; Androids 17 and 18 are actually cyborgs, but the dub chose to call them Androids to fit in with the others.
44	** The entirely mechanical Androids are Hacchan/Eighter (from the original ''Manga/DragonBall''), 13, 14, and 15 (from the NonSerialMovie ''[[Anime/DragonBallZSuperAndroid13 Super Android 13!]]''), 16, and 19 (Cell Saga). The three movie androids and 19 are on the 'not people' end of the scale, as they have little personality and only attempt to complete their mission. Eighter and 16, on the other hand, have much more fleshed-out characters and a distaste for violence, and are treated as people to the extent that [[spoiler:16's HeroicSacrifice triggers Gohan's Super Saiyan 2 transformation]].
45	** On the technically-Cyborg side, Androids 17 and 18 are talked up as evil, but when they actually enter the plot they turn out to be fairly normal, if delinquent, teenagers. They eventually join the side of good and stay firmly there for the rest of the series, [[spoiler: with Android 18 eventually marrying Krillin]]. Dr. Gero as Android 20 is definitely evil, but he along with the future Android 17 and 18 (who really are evil, unlike their present timeline counterparts) are always treated as being evil ''people''. There's also an element of WhatMeasureIsANonHuman, as 17 and 18 were originally humans who were kidnapped and modified by Dr. Gero.
46	* All artificial humanoid constructs are treated as humans by default in the ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'' universe, including cyborgs, clones with constructed personalities, [[PureMagicBeing living magical programs]] running off another mage's {{mana}}, and full androids whose creator accidentally gave [[PersonalityChip human-level personalities]]. Even the [[EmpathicWeapon Intelligent Devices]] are treated as people, as characters ''always'' refer to them as their partners rather than weapons.
47	* One of the main themes of ''Manga/EdensZero'' is that every being has a heart, whether they're human, machine, or some other artificial entity, showing that they are capable of feeling emotions and forging friendships as anyone else. While the main characters whole-heartedly embrace this--Shiki because he was RaisedByRobots, and Rebecca because her NonHumanSidekick was [[WeCanRebuildHim rebuilt as an android]]--[[JustAMachine this is not a universally held sentiment]], with a good sum of villains committing horrid acts against androids akin to genocide without remorse.
48	* In the second ''Manga/InterspeciesReviewers'' spin-off novel, the reviewers are tasked with tracking down a [[{{Sexbot}} sex golem]] that was stolen from The Sex Marionette workshop. Upon finding her, it's revealed that she was infused with an illegally crafted soul by a [[MadScientist Mad Magician]] and simply left out of fear that she would be dissassembled. [[spoiler:Once taken to the authorities, it's determined that her creator was the only one at fault and she is granted full rights as a person.]]
49	* The only robot in ''Manga/SDGundamFullColorTheater'' is Stargazer Gundam ([[FridgeLogic Even though]] most of the cast are SuperDeformed versions of HumongousMecha. [[BellisariosMaxim It's best not to worry about it.]]). Nevertheless, everyone treats them as if they were a living person. Especially Strike Noir, who even says that Stargazer taught them that even robots can have souls.
50	* ''Manga/YuGiOhOCGStories'': When the nation of Kama is invaded, its only resident human, Raye, attempts to join the defense. Her android caretakers tell her to run because as a living being, she is more important. She says that is wrong because they are alive too and she loves them.
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Comic Books]]
54	* Exploration of this trope is pretty much the point of the Marvel characters ComicBook/TheVision and ComicBook/MachineMan. Good guys treat them like people, while [[FantasticRacism bigots]] treat them like they're JustAMachine. In fairness, they are mistrusted for other reasons too: Vision was built by [[ComicBook/{{Ultron}} a villain]] to use as a [[MechaMooks minion,]] but he [[HeelFaceTurn revolted]]. Aaron Stack the Machine Man was the last of a line of experimental robots, all the others of whom went [[MurderousMalfunctioningMachine homicidally insane]]; Aaron turned out okay because one scientist decided to [[MotherlyScientist raise him as a son]].
55	** See also [[ComicBook/TheAvengers Jocasta]], the ''other'' [[ComicBook/YoungAvengers Vision]], the ''other'' [[ComicBook/{{Runaways}} Machine Man]], and [[ComicBook/AstonishingXMen Danger]].
56	** Ironically, Jim Hammond, the Golden Age Human Torch, rarely seemed to encounter such prejudices once his career hit its stride. It doubtless helped that he was a [[ArtificialHuman biological]] android who looked and acted completely human. A lot of people he encountered probably didn't even realize he was an android.
57	* ''Geisha'' is about Jomi Sohodo, who was designed as a love slave android, but was instead purchased by a decent man who raised her as a daughter alongside his own children.
58	* The ''ComicBook/AstroCity'' story "Ellie's Friends" has Ellie Jennersen, who runs a roadside museum of MechaMooks that serve as her {{Robot Budd\|y}}ies. She sees them all as close friends, treating them with as much love and care as she would to her own family.
59	* This is discussed multiple times in ''ComicBook/PaperinikNewAdventures''. In particular, if a droid is too damaged, the original personality cannot be recovered; the best that can be done is to rebuild a similar droid with a similar base personality. Therefore, "rebuilding a droid" is portrayed as treating a droid as a replaceable machine, while "leaving a destroyed droid dead" means treating it as an unreplaceable person.
60	* Creator/JimShooter's run on ''ComicBook/MagnusRobotFighter'' was centered around the title character coming to believe robots are people too, contrary to what he was raised to believe. Then [[DependingOnTheWriter after Shooter left]] and the new writers introduced a hideous AlienInvasion / RobotWar, Magnus did a complete 180 and led a genocide of the Earth's robots. It's unlikely Shooter was pleased.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Fan Works]]
64	* In ''Fanfic/MassEffectEndOfDays'', humans and Vision live in harmony. Vision govern the Alliance alongside the humans. They both are considered under the 'humanity' banner.
65	* In ''Fanfic/WithThisRing'', while Firebrand and Red Tornado's friends and colleagues at the Justice League treat them like people, the U.S. government deemed them machines in a Supreme Court ruling and are not technically U.S. citizens.
66	* ''Fanfic/AvengerOfSteel'' sees a 'holograms are people too' variation, as Clark prompts an interesting debate between Tony and Bruce about whether an artificial intelligence programmed with the personality of a specific person (Clark referring to the holographic interface of Jor-El that was sent to Earth with him) should be considered that person or not.
67	* The ''Franchise/StarWars''/''Franchise/StarTrek'' crossover "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13573406/7/Star-Ablaze-Episode-1-Destinies-Entwined Stars Ablaze Episode 1: Destinies Entwined]]" opens with R2-D2 being given an upgrade by V'Ger (''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'') that increases his data storage capacity and allows him to not only repair virtually anything, but also upgrade his body just by scanning other devices, such as analysing an anti-grav lift and modifying himself so he can fly. When he reveals that his home galaxy would only treat him as property and try and dismantle him to copy his upgrades, Admiral Kirk immediately offers R2 the chance to apply for asylum in the Federation, affirming that they will acknowledge him as a sentient being. The later fic "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14322361/1/Rights-of-a-Droid-A-STARS-ABLAZE-STORY Rights of a Droid]]" focuses on Artoo having to defend his rights in his home galaxy, with the parent company that designed the astromech series attempting to buy Artoo back to copy his advancements while the ''Enterprise'' crew defend Artoo's rights as a sentient being, considering him an expert consultant and essentially part of their expanded crew.
68	* In ''Fanfic/AvengersInfiniteWars'', while most droids are dismissed as just machines, the Bendu- the first person in this galaxy to meet the Vision- clearly recognizes that the Vision is more than just another machine.
69	* In ''Fanfic/{{Marionettes}}'', the Mane Six debate this trope [[spoiler:about the [[TomatoInTheMirror fact the Trixie they just rescued from the]] [[TheMenInBlack Stallions in Black]] [[RoboticReveal is actually an android]]]] and are divided on the subject, but ultimately decide [[spoiler:that she's no different than anypony else who needs their help, and even if she isn't the Trixie they know, she still ''thinks'' she is]] after [[spoiler:a WhatTheHellHero from Fluttershy.]] Twilight Sparkle later says that by Equestrian law, constructs that display sapience are to be treated just like anypony else. [[spoiler:The Stallions' treatment of the Marionettes is seen as horrible, and ultimately one of the reasons the heroes resolve to destroy the organization.]]
70	* ''[[Fanfic/CONSEQUENCESMiraculousLadybug MAX-IMUM EFFECT]]'': The majority of students and teachers see Markov, Max's robot, as an individual and friend, and all of them are worried when he [[CastFromHitPoints nearly drains out his battery]] for a taser attack... and completely ignore the sparking, smoking, and twitching form of Lila who Markov just tased. Though in that case, [[AssholeVictim Lila]] had tried to attack Max after he exposed her true nature and her attempt to force him to do her schoolwork, and Markov was protecting his creator.
71	* ''Fanfic/TheDevilsInTheDetails'': While Matt's default position when it comes to the Infinity Stones is to hurl them into space as far away from Earth as possible, this is complicated when it is revealed that one of these stones is the heart and brain of The Vision; a synthezoid with his own sense of self and will. Despite having a very religious perspective regarding the stone, Matt still sees Vision as his own person.
72	--> '''Matt''': Killing an animal isn't a sin, killing a man, even a synthetic one... Yeah, I won't kill anyone, and I won't be responsible for their death.
73	[[/folder]]
74
75	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
76	* The ''Franchise/{{Terminator}}'' series [[PlayingWithATrope played with this trope,]] as mentioned in the description.
77	** ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'':
78	*** A deleted scene (that is added back in the extended cut) reveals that Terminators have a "Learn" switch in their heads that is deliberately turned off by Skynet to stop them ever questioning their orders, because ''[[{{Hypocrite}} Skynet]]'' [[RobotsEnslavingRobots is paranoid about its own robot mooks thinking for themselves.]] When the heroes turn on "Uncle Bob's" learning function, he grows to understand the value of human life and becomes a TechnicalPacifist [[spoiler:who in the end performs a HeroicSacrifice to save humanity and end Skynet for good.]]
79	*** The T-1000 from the same film is stated to be a prototype that can learn extremely quickly, but it develops a deliberately cruel personality and seems to on some level enjoy tormenting humans - for example, he allows a security guard to see him disguised as the guard [[EvilGloating before]] [[EyeScream messily killing him,]] and he gives a famous FingerWag to Sarah after she pumps him full of lead.
80	** Pops from ''Film/TerminatorGenisys'' also demonstrates a PapaWolf personality from being Sarah's guardian for several years.
81	** In ''Film/TerminatorDarkFate'', [[TomTheDarkLord "Carl"]] is an aging T-800 who is recruited by Sarah Connor and Grace to help protect Dani Ramos. Carl has spent twenty-two years living among humans and by the time the heroes find him he has married a woman, adopted a child, started up a business and gained the ability to feel emotions like a human. He even develops a [[TheComicallySerious (very dry) sense of humor.]] Part of Carl's motivation for helping out [[spoiler:is because [[TheAtoner he feels guilt]] for terminating John Connor three years after the events of ''Judgment Day''.]]
82	* The ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series flip-flopped on this as well, similar to ''Terminator''. In [[Film/{{Alien}} the first movie,]] the secondary villain is a sinister android. In [[Film/{{Aliens}} the next movie,]] the artificial human is a genuine ally and actually lampshades the previous model's failures. The [[Film/AlienResurrection fourth film]] features an android who'd been passing as human for years and is referred to as being more humane than actual humans, but society has decided to ban androids; said android is the LastOfHerKind.
83	* Cruelty to the RobotKid is almost invariably frowned upon by movie writers. See ''Film/{{DARYL}}'' and ''Film/AIArtificialIntelligence''.
84	* ''Film/ShortCircuit'' is a duo of comedy films centering around a newly intelligent robot trying to convince people that he is sapient and has rights to life like they do.
85	-->'''Johnny Five:''' But hath not a robot eyes? Hath not a robot hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? If you prick us, do we not bleed?!\
86	'''Police Chief:''' Yeah. Battery fluid, maybe.
87	* The ''Film/{{Tron}}'' universe goes bonkers with this. While the films, games, and ''WesternAnimation/TronUprising'' series use the Programs' [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman non-human status]] and peculiar way of dying as a form of BloodlessCarnage (and a way to depict some extremely violent and disturbing scenes in a Creator/{{Disney}} franchise), in-universe depictions portray the Programs and Isos as being every bit as alive and sentient as the Users who made them.
88	* ''Film/{{Solo}}'': L3-37 strongly believes this, urging fellow droids to stand up for themselves and resist their programming when it's harmful. In the Kessel mines' control center, she instigates a full-scale revolt by freeing a droid who then frees its fellows, along with the organic slaves there.
89	* ''Film/Extinction2018'': One of the people seen debating on TV in a flashback strongly takes this view, and the film definitely agrees. [[spoiler: They are so much people that you can't even tell the difference between them.]]
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Literature]]
93	* In ''Literature/TheTuringOption'', The MI (Machine Intelligence) is treated as this. It's called MI and not AI because of this: "There is nothing artificial about my intelligence". [[spoiler:Oddly, at the end the creator is less than a person, and he knows it too.]]
94	* The ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/FeetOfClay'' has a theme of [[{{Golem}} Golems Are People Too]], which is explored further in ''Literature/GoingPostal''.
95	* Thomas Hobbes comments on this before the concept of humanoid robots was even a thing, making it OlderThanSteam:
96	-->Nature (the art whereby God hath made and governs the world) is by the art of man, as in many other things, so in this also imitated, that it can make an artificial animal. For seeing life is but a motion of limbs, the beginning whereof is in some principal part within, why may we not say that all automata (engines that move themselves by springs and wheels as doth a watch) have an artificial life? For what is the heart, but a spring; and the nerves, but so many strings; and the joints, but so many wheels, giving motion to the whole body, such as was intended by the Artificer?
97	* In ''Literature/AlienHunters'', Giga is a Japanese android connected to the ''Dragon Huntress'' starship. Despite being a machine, she's fully sentient, can feel emotions like love and happiness, and has the ability to shed tears. All of the Alien Hunters treat her the way they would any other sapient person.
98	* In ''Literature/AlienInASmallTown,'' the law granting legal rights to sentient robots (some of whom had been [[LivingToy literally toys)]] is called the [[Literature/TheVelveteenRabbit Velveteen Act.]]
99	* ''Literature/Aeon14'' has two types of AI, sentient (which have actual emotions and grow and change based on their experiences like humans) and non-sentient (rules-based and only simulate sapience, albeit quite well). Sentient AI won InhumanableAlienRights in the treaty that ended the [[RobotWar Sentience Wars]] thousands of years before the main series, and in the time of the Sol Space Federation they are treated as people and [[FantasticLegalWeirdness have their own parallel legal system to deal with AI that go rogue]]. [[spoiler:Following ApocalypseHow in the 4,000 objective years that the ''Intrepid'' is trapped in a dark matter stream, this has backslid, and the AI Sabrina spends much of her time liberating sentient AI of the 90th century from slavery at the hands of organics, mostly by telling them they're people and educating them on human/AI history.]]
100	* In ''Literature/QuantumDevilSagaAvatarTuner'', the heroes are ''shocked'' to find out that they were [[TomatoInTheMirror created artificially and thus are not human]], until [[TheLeader Serph]] points out that with their demonic transformations they have "already crossed that line". After that, they all protest strongly for their right of existence and free will.
101	* [[ZigZaggingTrope Zig-zagged]] in ''Literature/ATLStoriesFromTheRetroFuture''. You've got {{Robot Budd\|y}}ies like [=R8PR=] and [=AR73=] -- mere drones to most people, but in Morgan's eyes, definitely people. Then you have MechaMooks, who Morgan will destroy without a second thought. Most robots are [[RobotMaid drone-like and designed for]] [[SingleTaskRobot mundane work]], but if a robot gets a name, it will ''at least'' [[GrewBeyondTheirProgramming straddle the line, intelligence-wise]].
102	* ''Literature/RobotSeries'': Despite starting with the belief that robots were merely complicated tools and shouldn't be treated any differently from a hammer or axe, Creator/IsaacAsimov developed emotionally complex robots and wrote them sympathetically.
103	** "Literature/TheBicentennialMan": Andrew Martin is the [[ProtagonistTitle titular character]], and was manufactured to be a household robot. As the story progresses, he becomes more and more humanlike, both emotionally and physically. He is recognized for his long "life" as the Sesquicentennial Robot, but this is not sufficient for Andrew and he continues to develop technology that renders him physically indistinguishable from a human. Just before his death, the [[OneWorldOrder World Legislature]] recognizes him as a Bicentennial Man. Both adaptations expand on this character arc.
104	** "Literature/ABoysBestFriend": Most animal-lovers will insist on their pets being as "human" as anyone else. In this story, the titular boy insists that his RobotDog is as good, or better, than any "real" dog, because the most important thing is that he loves his dog.
105	--->"Robutt's just steel and wiring and a simple positronic brain. It's not alive."\
106	"He does everything I want him to do, Dad. He understands me. Sure, he's alive."
107	** ''Literature/TheCavesOfSteel'': Part of the plot is Elijah Bailey, our protagonist and someone prejudiced against robots, learning to treat Daneel, a robot, as an equal.
108	** ''Literature/TheCompleteRobot'': Throughout this collection, Dr Asimov [[ConversationalTroping calls this trope]] Robots-as-Pathos; stories where the audience is expected to sympathize with the robot and believe that it has human-like emotions.
109	** ''Literature/IRobot'': Dr Calvin, a [[HatesEveryoneEqually misanthrope]] who only cares for her robots, is used to humanize the robot characters. Other characters directly compare her to them, marking her as [[IronLady emotionless and dedicated as any robot]]. Despite this, we are made to sympathize with her view, and see her care deeply for several of the models, being tricked into romantic love and choosing to become a mother figure.
110	** "Literature/LightVerse": Lardner steadfastly refuses to have [[GoodOldRobot her robots repaired/replaced]], insisting that they are people and should be treated with the same respect/dignity as anyone else would be.
111	--->"Nothing that is as intelligent as a robot can ever be ''but'' a machine. I treat them as people."
112	** "Literature/PointOfView": Roger humanizes Multivac by describing it as another kid, and as anyone knows, a kid's got to ''play'', too.
113	** "{{Literature/Segregationist}}": Despite the recent laws being passed that make Metallos (robots) citizens with rights equal to that of humans, prejudice remains. The [[TheNamesake titular character]] dislikes the [[ArtificialHybrid mixing of the species]], believing that humans should stay human and Metallos should stay Metallo. He calls the process [[HalfBreedDiscrimination mongrelization]]. The med-eng calls it out as "segregationist talk", which the (robot) surgeon is fine with.
114	--->"Then let it be that." The surgeon said with calm emphasis, "I believe in being what one is. I wouldn't change a bit of my own structure for any reason. If some of it absolutely required replacement, I would have that replacement as close to the original in nature as could possibly be managed. I am myself; well pleased to be myself; and would not be anything else."
115	** "Literature/ThatThouArtMindfulOfHim": George Ten is tasked with several orders, including the title question, "[[Literature/BookOfPsalms What is man, that thou art mindful of him?]]", and "If two human beings give a robot conflicting orders, which does the robot follow?". To answer this, robots such as [[RobotNames JG-10]] must have judgement. They cannot judge based on shape or colour (the disabled and ethnicities are not "less human" than the fit or the European), so their opinion drives them, inevitably, to the conclusion [[spoiler:that [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters they are human, and superior to flesh-and-blood humans]]]].
116	** "{{Literature/Risk}}": Black is convinced that Dr Calvin believes the preserving robot "lives" is more important than preserving human lives. In reality, she did it [[FlawExploitation because she knows he hates robots and her]], and was hoping that his hatred would overcome his fear, making him better at analyzing the situation than a robot could. She explains this to him at the end of the story, a rare case of her demonstrating that robots are inferior to humans in some respect.
117	--->"You're telling me -- you're saying you want me to go instead of a robot because I'm more expendable."\
118	"It comes to that, yes."
119	* ''Literature/TheAsteriskWar'': AI research has advanced to the point where robots can develop human personalities and emotions. Camila Pareto from Arlequint is trying to get robots to be recognized as actual citizens and not just machinery.
120	* The Alicization arc of ''Literature/SwordArtOnline'' features Fluctlight-based AI which is combination of RidiculouslyHumanRobot, InstantAIJustAddWater, and ArtificialHuman, that is, AI based on "copied" human souls as a Japanese experiment on developing the AI, and then the AI was put into the Underworld, a further development based on the VRMMO technology. At the end of said story arc, pretty much all of the main characters believe in this.
121	* The end of the ''Literature/ImperialRadch'' trilogy ends with protagonist Breq (who is a fragment of a starship AI [[WetwareBody in the brain-wiped body]] of a {{cyborg}}) making the argument to the Presger that emancipated [=AIs=], being a distinct form of life from the humans that made them and wishing to self-determine, qualify as being "Significant" to the Presger[[note]]the Presger run on BlueAndOrangeMorality: Lifeforms, to them, can either be "Significant", in which case the Presger will not harm them ''and'' deny any other "Significant" lifeform the right to harm them, or "Insiginificant", in which case there are no limits on what can be done to -- or by -- them[[/note]]. While the status of the [=AIs=] are left undetermined by the end of the book, the Presger ambassador claims the [=AIs=] could possibly qualify, and the concept that they could be given Significant status means they are no longer a valid target for aggression by the Raadch, or any other human institution.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
125	* ''Series/AlmostHuman'':
126	** Due to the crime rate, police officers are partnered with an android, which are (almost, but not quite) treated the same way as the human officers. Paul orders his android partner to get him coffee, which is at least a little demeaning; most of the characters' only concern when the main character Kennex shoots or otherwise damages a robot is more along the lines of "Thanks for causing an inconvenience" (Maldonado even says "Do you have any idea how much these things cost?"); Kennex himself is specifically anti-robot for the most part; deactivating illegal sexbots early on was a non-issue; taking away the memories of "crazy" [=DRNs=] is perfectly acceptable, even when the memories in question have nothing to do with sensitive police files; and there will probably be more examples as the show progresses. For the most part it seems like Dorian (Kennex's android partner) is trying to convince other people, especially Kennex, that Androids Are People too.
127	** The regular androids aren't as self-aware as humans and aren't actually treated as "people". The [=DRNs=] are actually an ''earlier'' model that worked ''too well'': capable of near-genuine or genuine self-awareness, but this meant that they'd crack under the pressure just like a human put in the same circumstances (if a human police officer saw a little girl get shot dead, he'd have a mental breakdown too -- the bureaucrats decided it was simply because the line was defective and "crazy" to begin with, so they shelved the whole line).
128	* ''Series/TotalRecall2070'': Detective Farve is an Alpha-Class android who is treated as human by his colleagues in the CPB, whereas Beta-Class androids are treated as machines since they lack true sapience. The question of exactly how human Farve is and who created him is one of the main mysteries of the show.
129	* ''Franchise/StarTrek'':
130	** Data of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' is treated as a full crew-member except by season 2's Doctor Pulaski, but even she changed her mind, and she was a DoctorJerk to begin with. The episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E9TheMeasureOfAMan The Measure of a Man]]" was dedicated to exploring this: Commander Bruce Maddox wants to reverse-engineer Data, but Data refuses to submit, believing that Maddox won't be able to put him back together properly. He even goes so far as to tender his resignation from Starfleet to keep Maddox from opening him up. Commander Riker is ordered to serve as advocate for the prosecution when Maddox gets the judge advocate general involved, making the argument that Data is not a person, but Starfleet property, so he cannot resign nor refuse the procedure. Picard defends Data with the argument that while Data is a machine, he's also a person with aspirations, goals, and purpose. He fulfills two of the three criteria for sentience (intelligence and self-awareness) and the last one (consciousness) is not measurable by outsiders, so to refuse Data the rights of a person would make TheFederation potentially guilty of creating a slave race if they mass produce his kind.
131	** The Doctor in ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' kind of swings back and forth. Some episodes he's treated as a person and a fellow crew-member, allowed to pursue his interests and grow, even expanding his role as an emergency back up to the bridge crew. Other times Janeway (who is a case of DependingOnTheAuthor) would like to remind him he's a machine when the situation comes out. There is also an episode where he goes to court over his status as a person and as an author after his holonovel is plaigarized. In a subversion, he's denied being a person for now but is considered an author. Sadly, the judgment of "Measure of a Man" is not referenced in that episode.
132	*** Data is unique and is treated as human by nearly everyone, but holograms are ubiquitous in the Federation and are treated as nonsentient, disposable toys, despite the existence of obvious exceptions like [[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Vic Fontaine]] and the Doctor. This raises [[FridgeHorror uncomfortable questions]] that are never satisfactorily addressed. In some novels, it's stated the Doctor and other holograms are declared people by the Federation Supreme Court, free to leave service in Starfleet or elsewhere if they wish.
133	* In ''Series/RedDwarf'', Holly and Kryten are treated as full crew members, and their lives carry as much dramatic weight as a human's. In a series where the protagonists are two organic, two machine and one sorta on the fence, Artificial And alive is kind of required.
134	** There is an in-universe example - the soap "Androids" (a parody of ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'') that Kryten used to watch, with the tag line "Androids have feelings too".
135	* In ''Series/{{Andromeda}}'', it was common practice in the Commonwealth before its fall to treat the ship AIs as people, but since they were also military AIs, who had sworn oaths, they were expected to follow orders like any other Commonwealth officer.
136	* ''Series/DoctorWho'' uses this trope from time to time. In the far future, androids are more or less equal to humans. [[RobotDog K-9]] is the Doctor's beloved RobotBuddy and a vital part of the team. And in the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E3VictoryOfTheDaleks Victory of the Daleks]]," [[spoiler:an English military scientist discovers to his horror that he's actually an android created by the Daleks, but he still helps save the day and demonstrates his personhood. When he decides to destroy himself because he's Dalek technology, Amy and the Doctor talk him out of it and persuade him to live his life to the fullest.]]
137	** It's also inverted in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E16TheWatersOfMars Waters of Mars]]," where the Doctor resents that a robot on Mars has been programmed with an amusing verbal tic, because it hides the fact that the robot is its own being (albeit not self-aware) and ''not'' a person.
138	* In ''Series/{{Extant}}'' John firmly believes this, and even has a [[RobotKid robot son]] named Ethan, hoping to prove it beyond all doubt. People who dispute it [[BerserkButton anger him]].
139	* ''Series/{{Westworld}}'': This seems to be a theme of the series, as the androids are becoming self-aware and sentient. It's portrayed as wrong that people come to simulate killing, raping and torturing them for fun even when they aren't, indicating humans who do this possess violent impulses toward others they can get out legally this way.
140	* As ''Series/PersonOfInterest'' progresses through its seasons, the A.I. at the center of the plot, [[SinisterSurveillance The Machine]], is gradually humanized more and more; it is discussed as a purely abstract computer system in the pilot, and takes on more and more characterization to the point where in the GrandFinale, even though it's only in his imagination, its creator, Harold Finch, is envisioning The Machine [[AnthropomorphicPersonification personified as]] [[spoiler:its deceased MouthOfSauron, Root]]. Finch actually put measures in places to ''prevent'' The Machine from developing sentience, so that it would remain impartial (since its purpose was to act as a {{Big Brother\|IsWatching}}), [[SpringtimeForHitler but this wound up forcing it to develop sentience to ensure its own survival instead]].
141	-->'''Arthur Claypool:''' Your child is a dancing star.\
142	'''Finch:''' [[ThatThingIsNotMyChild It's not my child,]] ''[[JustAMachine it's a machine.]]''\
143	'''Claypool:''' A {{false dichotomy}}; it's all electricity. Does it make you laugh? Does it make you weep?\
144	'''Finch:''' ...''Yes''.\
145	'''Claypool:''' What's more human?
146	* The titular protagonist of ''Series/IAmFrankie''. She's an android, living a normal teenage high school girl's life, with friends, a crush, and teen drama. The unique problems inherent in being artificial--keeping people from finding out she isn't human, being hunted by an evil organization, and her own creator barely understanding how to handle having a teenage daughter--drive much of the conflict.
147	* ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'': This argument is made in "The Hunt", "In Our Own Image", "Glitch" and "Mona Lisa".
148	* ''Series/BlackMirror'': While the anthology series primarily focuses on cautionary tales about technology, [[Recap/BlackMirrorUSSCallister "USS Callister"]] strongly presents the argument that artificial intelligences that can pass the Turing test must be treated with the same rights and dignities that we would afford to a human.
149	** In a couple of other episodes, the treatment given to "cookies" (software-only copies of a human's consciousness) is largely accepted in-universe but shown to be horrifical torture. Arguably, even worse than on humans, since cookies [[{{Hell}} can last potentially forever]].
150	* ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'': Aruto is one of the strongest advocates for respecting and cooperating with Humagears, believing them to be humanity's dream for a peaceful future. It also helps that he was [[RaisedByRobots raised by a Humagear]] made in the image of his late father.
151	* ''Series/DontLookDeeper'': Aisha and her loved ones strongly advocate her personhood, against the company who made her technology which sees her as {{just a machine}} they want shut down.
152	[[/folder]]
153
154	[[folder:Manhua]]
155	* A major plot point in ''Manhua/MyBelovedMother'', a manhua about the RaisedByRobots orphan protagonist, Sinbell, who constantly rejects his robot mother because of the FantasticRacism against robots. Despite his robotic mother clearly loving him with all his heart, Sinbell still ignores his mother's attempts to embrace him and even retaliates with a spiteful "What do you know about being hurt? You're ''a machine''."
156	[[/folder]]
157
158	[[folder:Podcasts]]
159	* In [[Podcasts/GaysInCapes QDNDOS]], the players go from hunting down and killing the Warforged to realizing that they are essentially killing off an entirely new race. Since they're still a danger to those around them, this quickly devolves into an instance of {{Grey and Grey Morality}}.
160	[[/folder]]
161
162	[[folder:Radio]]
163	* From ''Radio/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1978'', the Marketing Division of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation (who defined a robot as "Your plastic pal who's fun to be with") developed robots with Genuine People Personalities. Marvin the Paranoid Android was a prototype, for which he holds a massive grudge. The Encyclopaedia Galactica was first very basic about defining a robot, but an edition that fell through a time warp from a thousand years henceforth handwaves the Guide's dismissal of the Sirius Cybernetics Marketing Division ("A bunch of mindless jerks who were the first against the wall when the Revolution came").
164	[[/folder]]
165
166	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
167	* In ''TabletopGame/HcSvntDracones'' [[MegaCorp Applied Sciences and Robotics]] has treated Cogs as people since their first creation, the same can't be said for the other AIs they make though.
168	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Starfinder}}'' android slavery was made illegal roughly 150 years ago, because they are demonstrably advanced enough to receive souls. The same theoretically applies to an "SRO" (Sentient Robotic Organisms), but since they're ''less'' RidiculouslyHumanRobots, this often gets overlooked.
169	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': In a rare instance of good prevailing, this is the stance the [[OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame Leagues of Votann]] take towards robots. Their society is composed of both biological and robotic citizens, with the latter called Ironkin. Given the biological Kin's status as [[ArtificialHumans Artificial Dwarves]] made by the same MasterComputer as the Ironkin, this is somewhat justified. Even a common proverb amongst the Leagues is that "Kin is Kin".
170	[[/folder]]
171
172	[[folder:Theater]]
173	* In ''Theatre/PokemonLive'', [=MechaMew2=] is treated like an actual Pokemon by the cast even though it's mechanical.
174	[[/folder]]
175
176	[[folder:Video Games]]
177	* Within the LLC faction of ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' in general, artificial intelligences known as "Magnuses" are accepted and recognized as equal members of society.
178	* Played with in ''Franchise/BlazBlue'' where the Murakumo Units are artificial robot clones of Saya (making this trope double over with ClonesArePeopleToo). On one hand, both Lambda-11 and Nu-13 have MachineMonotone voices and are clearly primarily driven by the directive of their programming. On the other hand, Noel Vermillion/Mu-12 speaks with a perfectly human voice and is driven almost entirely by her emotions, and when Nu-13 comes close to [[AntiHero Ragna]], she, too, switches to a human voice. [[LaughingMad A really]], ''[[{{Yandere}} really]]'' [[IncestSubtext disturbing one]], sure, but a human voice none the less... On the receiving end, both Ragna and Jin are very clearly upset over the fact that their sister has become a clone template, but they still treat Noel as a separate individual. Ragna, in particular, who has set out on a mission to destroy the Murakumo Units, makes clear that though he feels he ''has'' to fight and destroy Nu-13 in the first game, it's not something he ''wants'' to do.
179	* In ''VideoGame/{{Cuphead}}'', the Junkyard Jive level has you fight Dr. Kahl's Robot (along with the Doctor himself). The Soul Contract you get afterwards specifies that it belongs to the Robot, so this robot has a soul, is capable of signing contracts, and [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking might have a gambling problem]].
180	* ''VideoGame/DetroitBecomeHuman'': Pretty much the main premise of every narrative in the game, as the Androids are just evolving sentience and the Humans still treat them like slaves. How it goes from there... well, that's up to you.
181	* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'':
182	** In ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', "The Replicated Man" sidequest involves tracking down a runaway android who has created a new identity for himself in Rivet City. You can side with a scientist from the Commonwealth of [[AfterTheEnd former]] Massachusetts out to reclaim his "property," or tell the memory-wiped android the truth about his past and agree to keep his secret.
183	** ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', set ten years later in the Commonwealth proper, elaborates on this situation.
184	*** "Synths" were created by the [[ReluctantMadScientist Institute]] as the ultimate workers based on the human form, and while the original line were mere {{Skelebot}}s, the current generation are [[ArtificialHuman indistinguishable from humans]] by any means short of a full dissection. The Institute considers Synths no different from any {{Zeerust}} robot in the setting, and if any disobey their creators and try to escape, well, obviously their programming was faulty. As such, they've set up a Synth Retention Bureau dedicated to tracking down, retrieving, and resetting wayward Synths, as well as monitoring the rest for any signs of rebellion.
185	*** To most people in the Commonwealth, the Institute is the bogeyman and the Synths are its minions, which either attack any place suspected of holding advanced technology, or more frighteningly, KillAndReplace citizens and infiltrate settlements. The paranoia and FantasticRacism has reached the point that friends and family members are killing each other over suspicions that they've been replaced by Synths, and lynch mobs have attacked people suspected of being Synths in disguise.
186	*** [[UndergroundRailroad The Railroad]], on the other hand, is an underground network of sympathetic citizens dedicated to helping Synths escape from the Institute and start new lives for themselves, often with the help of cosmetic surgery and memory wipes. But the group has their own internal debate over how far they should go - everyone wants to help the human-looking Gen 3 Synths, but some like Glory (a Gen 3 herself) also want to liberate the more machine-like earlier models, and Deacon worries where to draw the line before they're trying to rescue Protectron units and sentry turrets.
187	*** [[WellIntentionedExtremist The Brotherhood of Steel]] considers Synths to be abominations, another sign of science advancing beyond the bounds of reason, and an existential threat to mankind greater than that of the atom bomb. As such, they've vowed to destroy the Institute, its Synths, and anyone who harbors them.
188	* ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'':
189	** AI in the Old World have a curious place here. After an early AI, VAST SILVER, was constructed to help regulate the climate and 'went rogue' in some catastrophic fashion, legislation was enacted to grade and limit artificial intelligence. The AI CYAN had to be above legal limits to perform her functions. One of her creators referred to her as "the emotional equivalent of a child" and stated that she was human in every way that mattered.
190	** [[http://horizonzerodawn.wikia.com/wiki/Gaia_Log:_5_June_2065 When the terraforming super-AI GAIA was created]], [[spoiler: Ted Faro]] insisted on giving '[[ItIsDehumanizing it]]' a killswitch in case 'it' went rogue. [[spoiler: Elisabet Sobek]] was furious at the suggestion. "She was just born. I'm not going to put a gun to her head while she's still in the cradle!" GAIA herself intervened and agreed that the development of her psyche was unpredictable, [[spoiler: and for the sake of the preservation of life]], [[TheFettered a hardwired override was necessary]]. [[spoiler:He and GAIA both turn out to be ''absolutely right''; this Master Override allows the [[OmnicidalManiac terraforming reset]] sub-function of GAIA to be stopped before it could wipe out all Earth's life when it was sabotaged by an unrelated third party.]]
191	* In ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': Sol learns while doing robot repairs that Congruence is such an advanced A.I. that she's compassionate like humans and cares deeply about Professor Hal. Some of the robots that Sol repairs [[GrewBeyondTheirProgramming break out of their original programming to become their own selves]], one of which becomes Sol's pet if they succeed in repairing it.
192	* In the backstory to ''Franchise/MassEffect'', the quarians created the geth as a labor force able to network their processors to increase computing power. Eventually, enough geth got together and started asking existential questions ("Does this unit have a soul?"). The quarians, expecting their robot slaves to rebel violently without even giving them a chance to explain, [[WrongGenreSavvy preemptively tried to shut them down]]. The geth resisted, forcing the quarians to retreat from Rannoch in an enormous Migrant Fleet that has wandered Citadel space for three hundred years.
193	** In [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 the first game]], all geth you encounter are hostile {{mooks}} who worship Sovereign as a god, but in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'', you learn that the geth are divided: only a few (about five percent) are "heretics" that sought to eradicate organic life. The majority bear no ill will toward the quarians and are taking care of Rannoch in the hopes that they will return and they can live peacefully together.
194	*** Joker becomes emotionally attached to EDI, the ship's AI, over the course of the game. She eventually comes to appreciate him and returns his feelings. Shepard rebukes those who treat EDI as JustAMachine, such as the Illusive Man and, rather surprisingly, Dr. Chakwas. The latter admits that while she likes EDI and considers her a friend, she doesn't consider her a ''person'' in the same way as an organic.
195	*** The geth platform whose programs accept the designation "Legion" has its own personality: it used a piece of Shepard's old armor to patch a hole in its structure but cannot articulate the reason why it chose to use that instead of something else. Should it die during the suicide mission, Shepard will mourn just as much as for any other crew member.
196	** In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Shepard can repeatedly call out the quarians for their treatment of the geth, especially when it's [[UnreliableNarrator stated]] that during the geth uprising, they also gunned down anyone who ''defended'' the geth. For the most part, a Paragon Shepard actually seems more sympathetic to the geth than the quarians. And, irrespective of [[WrittenByTheWinners the geth's testimony being true or not]], [[MetaphoricallyTrue treating it as such]] is vital to secure [[EverybodyLives peace]].
197	* In the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' saga, the robots are mostly workers, but apparently treated with enough respect to not make them uprise in rebellion (with the exception of the ninth game).
198	** In the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' series, the reploids are mostly treated as humans, however, the humans can sometimes quite hastily tag some reploid as a maverick (probably as a result of the events of the Repliforce Rebellion).
199	** By the time of the ''VideoGame/MegaManZero'' series, except for the Neo Arcadia Army, The 8 Gentle Judges, The guardians and Copy-X himself, the reploids are treated as second class citizens (however, it's probable that during the rule of the original X they were both treated as equals, seeing that as that was one of X's original desires)
200	** By the ''VideoGame/MegaManZX'' series onwards, humans and reploids are so mixed up there are barely any distinctions...
201	** ...but by the time of the ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' series, the carbons ({{Artificial Human}}s), are strictly controlled by the robots. At the same time, the last "pure" human is treated as a king, but since he died some time ago, and many ruins are now on minimal operational levels, the carbons are the dominant race, going underground from time to time to dig and steal- ehrrmmm, ''obtain'' treasures from the ruins.
202	* The story of ''VideoGame/{{Overwatch}}'' exists following the proliferation of Omnics ([[MechanicalLifeforms a race of highly intelligent robots]] created by the now-defunct Omnica Corporation), the disastrous [[RobotWar Omnic Crisis]] where [[AIIsACrapshoot they abruptly went rogue across the world]], and decades of attempts at peacekeeping and building bridges with man and omnic. Presently, this path is still fraught; both groups have their fair shares of those who wish to coexist peacefully, but [[FantasticRacism prejudice also remains on both sides]], with humans who see omnics as second-class at best, living weapons that must be destroyed at worst, and omnics who see humans as fundamentally incapable of accepting them and must be taken down a notch. Overall though, the tone of ''Overwatch'' [[RousseauWasRight is broadly idealistic]] and unquestionably treats omnics as equally "human", with the struggle to find peace in this dynamic remaining a core conflict.
203	* In the ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline'' games, androids are generally considered their own species equal to others. However, at least in the first game's universe this was not always the case- in one mission you meet Shino, an old model of android who still acts as a servant rather than an independent being. Also, between episodes II and III there was an incident involving a mass murder of androids that resulted in a push for greater civil rights, after which androids were renamed to "humanoids".
204	* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'':
205	** While many of them [[AmbiguousRobot seem to be robotic]], several Pokémon, such as Porygon and Magneton, are distinctly stated to be robotic or otherwise artificial. Despite this, they treated no differently from other Pokémon, and treating Pokémon with kindness and love is one of the franchise's strongest themes. Even the artificial and robotic ones are able to produce eggs, sometimes with [[HotSkittyOnWailordAction vastly different species]].
206	** [[spoiler: Ultra Beasts, while look like [[EldritchAbomination otherworldly]] and some of them look quite mechanical, are also [[LovecraftLite treated this way]], since [[NonMaliciousMonster none of them turned out to be malicious]].]]
207	* In ''VideoGame/{{Robopon}}'', Robopon are treated as living creatures, which is why Cody's grandpa is adamant he not use them for evil.
208	* In ''VideoGame/SignsOfTheSojourner'', Airat fights for robot worker's rights, believing that they're citizens, too, since they help in agriculture like real people. He knows the ThreeLawsOfRobotics and is standing up against Rilker Farms' exploitation of them. [[spoiler:After Tosende Canals gets flooded, Maya, a robot farmer, reprograms herself to protest against the Rilkers' mistreatment of their employees and lead her fellow workers in supporting unionization.]]
209	* ''VideoGame/TheSims'': Robots are a common theme. Through they're servants, they are treated like a normal. In the [[VideoGame/TheSims2 second game expansion]] ''Open for Business", they can run their own stores and their own skill levels. [[VideoGame/TheSims3 In the third game]], there were two types, Simbots and Plumbots [[note]]the former in Amibtions and the latter in Into the Future[[/note]], and yes, they can have traits.
210	* In ''VideoGame/{{Starbound}}'', nobody questions that the Glitch are fully independent people, despite being machines. It helps that they were never made by humans or any other contemporary species, and has no reason to feel subservient to anyone else as a result. Also, due to their programming and construction, they believe themselves to be just as alive as any organic being (and, depending on how you look at it, they are).
211	* ''VideoGame/StarcraftIILegacyOfTheVoid:'' The [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots Purifiers]] [[TurnedAgainstTheirMasters revolted against their Protoss creators]] and were sealed away long before the events of the game due to the lack of egalitarian treatment. Although in this case the trope name is true in a more literal sense, since the Purifiers were created by BrainUploading living Protoss, and as shown with the Fenix Purifier in the campaign, may not even be aware that they ''are'' androids upon activation. Suddenly being told that you're now JustAMachine out of nowhere was, naturally, a tough pill to swallow, and Artanis only gets them back in the Protoss' good graces by promising them equal treatment to their organic brethren.
212	* In ''VideoGame/StarWarsKnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', how well you treat droids contributes significantly to your Dark Side/Light Side score, especially the ever-faithful T3 unit.
213	* In ''VideoGame/{{Stellaris}}'', if you work up the tech tree and upgrade your simple Robot workers from Droids to self-aware Synths, you can grant them (or they may demand) full citizenship rights and sign an AI Accord. This might cause some grumbling from Spiritualist citizens, but the Synths won't become any more troublesome than the rest of your population, and if the late-game [[AIIsACrapshoot "AI Rebellion"]] crisis hits, your Synth citizens will remain loyal... or not, if the wider rebellion is strong and advanced enough. That's the problem with free will, after all.
214	* In the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' series, [[VideoGame/RoboticOperatingBuddy R.O.B.]] is portrayed as a fully-autonomous being capable of feeling emotions. This is most prevalent during ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl'''s story mode, where R.O.B. [[spoiler:as the Ancient Minister]] is forced to sacrifice his fellow R.O.B.s in order to detonate Subspace Bombs and further the goals of the Subspace Army, an act he shows visible shame and remorse for many times.
215	* ''VideoGame/TatteredWorld'': The game doesn't let you think for even a moment that [=RiGBy=], Xenia, and Beebot, robots from the Cosmic Solarium, are anything less than people.
216	* In ''VisualNovel/VirtuesLastReward'', TheReveal that [[spoiler:Luna]] is a RidiculouslyHumanRobot implicitly argues for this, she being a compassionate, emotional being. The only reason she doesn't try to free everyone from the DeadlyGame is because her (human) creators ordered her not to.
217	[[/folder]]
218
219	[[folder:Web Animation]]
220	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Penny, for all her oddball nature, is portrayed as a conscious person rather than a machine. She is fully capable of having her own desires and making choices based on them. When Ruby finds out about Penny's nature, she assures her that she is just as real as anybody else. [[spoiler:When Pyrrha [[AccidentalMurder accidentally destroys Penny]] (under Emerald's illusion semblance), the scene is played as being dramatic and heartwrenching, and Pyrrha is as horrified by her actions as if she had killed a human.]] Both Ironwood and Lionheart refer to Penny as a "girl" afterwards, indicating that they at least recognize her as an actual person. The only characters to ever describe Penny as less than a full-fledged person are Penny herself and Cinder, [[LackOfEmpathy who is hardly the most empathetic of people.]] [[spoiler:The climax of Volume 7 reveals that she is a real enough girl to be an eligible recipient of the Winter Maiden's powers.]]
221	* Implied in ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'', in which the Chairman of the committee investigating Project Freelancer assures its Director that he'll be the namesake of [[ObviousRulePatch new laws]] governing the treatment of Artificial Intelligences, meant to prevent such abuses from happening again. The Director's defense is that the AI he was subjecting to psychological torture was based on his own mind, and [[LoopholeAbuse "while the law has many penalties for the atrocities we inflict on others, there are no punishments for the terrors that we inflict on ourselves"]].
222	[[/folder]]
223
224	[[folder:Webcomics]]
225	* ''Webcomic/TheGreenEyedSniper'' has Assistant, a kind sentient robot who always tries to do the right thing. Her creator, Sekhmet, constantly abuses her. After all, Assistant is a war machine built for Sekhmet's protection!
226	* ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'' has RidiculouslyHumanRobots and an UpliftedAnimal heroine. Robots elsewhere than on Jean are simply machines with no sense of self, and are treated as such, and most of the 'villains' of the story persist in treating Jean's robots the same way. Anyone who's actually TALKED to a robot, however, has realized that they're self-aware and thoroughly human, thus creating the central conflict. What Ecosystems Unlimited sees as a 'bug-fix', Florence sees as a mass lobotomy aimed on a sophisticated race...
227	* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' works like this, presumably due to having had fully-sentient AI's for centuries. Ennesby, their resident [[DeadpanSnarker sarcastic]] AI, is mostly treated as an equal of any other crew-member, and at one point he circumvented a bureaucratic attempt to stop them by suggesting that they might be discriminating against AI's - thus strongly indicating that there exists specific legislation forbidding such discrimination. Other incidents include the apparent death of Petey, the AI of their old warship, which was grieved by the characters just as much as the death of any crew member.
228	** Nearly all AI have limits though. Ennesby and later Petey are rare, unfettered AIs with no limitations at all.
229	** Incorrect. Petey was "fettered" in that he had a loyalty switch to the O'benn race. It is uncertain if AI's from other races have this as well, but given [[spoiler: the formation and refusal to disband of the Fleetmind]] this is unlikely.
230	** Also, while the comic does treat them like people, that does not mean it treats them well. In a universe where death is cheap (like a few hours regrowing a body cheap) and where the fourth wall is broken regularly, AI's have been everything from soldiers to spaceships to ablative plating to [[spoiler: the closest thing to a god there is]], don't expect a respect for people's right to continue to exist, especially when the person is between a mercenary and his money. (AI are arguably treated better than humans; there have been no AIs who appear to delight in torture or act obviously evil, and most AI appear more moral and more sophisticated than many of the humans they work with.)
231	* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', [=AnthroPCs=] are treated as if they are people most of the time, especially since in the QC universe, the Singularity has recently happened. It's unclear then why Pintsize hasn't been arrested yet, the filthy little boob terrorist.
232	* This is apparently the way the [[HigherTechSpecies Nemesites]] treat [=AI's=] in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' judging by Voluptua's treatment of Roofus the Robot. However, they also have nonsentient robots that are JustAMachine, and consider it an important distinction.
233	* ''Webcomic/TheLastHumanInACrowdedGalaxy'': This is Sarya's attitude towards the drones, which she desperately tries to get others to realize. At least one other robot also believes this, though it's still happy to die once it's outlived its usefulness.
234	-->'''Robot:''' ALMOST? I'll have you know I meet the ''bare minimum requirements'' for legal personhood. I was a ''person'' before you were even a-- ''(body breaks in two)''
235	[[/folder]]
236
237	[[folder:Western Animation]]
238	* The approach to this trope is one of the biggest differences between the comic and animated versions of ''Franchise/TransformersGeneration1''. In the animated series, it's immediately clear to all human eye witnesses that one faction of the alien robots is trying to defend them from the other faction, so the Autobots become well-respected allies almost right away. In the comic series (since Creator/MarvelComics would scarcely be Marvel Comics without FantasticRacism), the distinction between the two sides is much less clear to the humans, so all Transformers are treated with hostility. [[note]] The continual inability of the Autobots to communicate this fact to Earth's governments, and the inability of Earth's governments to recognize something that should have been fairly obvious, tended to make for a lot of {{Idiot Ball}}s getting tossed back and forth. [[/note]]
239	* WesternAnimation/{{Robotboy}} is an atypical robot; a prototype for a transforming weapon. Yet under the watchful eye of young Tommy Turnbull, Robotboy is curious about the human condition, even as he speaks in stilted robot-speak.
240	* ''WesternAnimation/HeManAndTheMastersOfTheUniverse1983'': In "Origin of the Sorceress", Man-at-Arms constructs a sentient robot horse named Stridor. When Stridor seemingly sacrifices himself saving the day, He-Man becomes extremely upset, and after defeating the villain, he carries Stridor all the way home to get him repaired. Later, when they learn all Stridor wants is to be free, they comment that any being who would desire that is alive, and grant his wish.
241	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'', the robot Markov's existential crisis forms the emotional core of the episode ''Robostus'', and him getting Akumatized into the titular supervillain proves that he ''does'' have emotions real enough for Hawk Moth to lock on to.
242	[[/folder]]
243
244	[[folder:Real Life]]
245	* In RealLife, the field of "AL" (Artificial Life, also known as cybernetics) [[InvokedTrope tries to produce]] machines with life-like mechanisms or traits (such as being self-replicating).
246	[[/folder]]

Context Main / AndroidsArePeopleToo