Introduction

This essay introduces the main themes that will be developed in the collective volume, aiming to create a conceptual framework that will guide the reader in their subsequent reading of the individual essays. It then examines how representations of anthropomorphic robots in the media influence our understanding of the relationship between culture, technology, and society. Narratives about robots, on the one hand, reflect fears and anxieties related to technology, but on the other, audiovisual products, including recreational ones such as video games, offer opportunities to explore an attitude of trust and empathy in dealing with robots. Popular culture—film, television, new platforms—thus plays a crucial role in shaping social perceptions of robots and artificial intelligence.