Ex Machina is a sci-fi thriller film that came out in 2014. It examined the way the AI, Ava, is able to create emotional responses in a human. The main character believes he is conducting an experiment on the robot however it is revealed that it in fact is the other way around. The robot is using her knowledge to predict the main characters reactions. Ava can display human emotion on her face but she has manipulative qualities which she uses through the film. Similar to this film, Hod Lipson displays robots who are also self-aware in one of the Ted Talk videos. He explains how the robots have the ability to lead and understand themselves even if they do not know what they look like. They can self replicate and figure out how to move based on the design of the robot. He makes a point that people have to get out of the mindset that the robot needs to be created but rather they need to learn for themselves, like children. 
Walter Benjamin says in his book, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, “one might subsume the eliminated element in the term “aura” and he later goes on to say, “that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art.” He claimed that authenticity is lost during the reproduction of art and that it is of utmost importance that art relates to the time period of its creation. Benjamin also states that authenticity can however, be unnecessary when the productivity of the creation is the most important aspect.
Robots are becoming more relevant in our every day lives. We have robots that can put out fires, cars that can drive themselves, and restaurants that are being run solely by robots. Robots are able to greatly decrease the risk of human injury while others are helping people complete tasks in their every day lives.
Davis, Douglas. Leonardo. Vol. 28 of The Work of Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction. N.p.: MIT Press, 1995.
Lipson, Hod. “Building ‘Self-Aware’ Robots.” TED, 2005. www.ted.com/talks/hod_lipson_builds_self_aware_robots#t-242901.
Benjamin, Walter. The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. London: Penguin, 2008. Print.
"Robotics MachikoKusahara 1." Video file. Youtube. Posted by Uconlineprogram, April 14, 2012.
Accessed July 1, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQZ_sy-mdEU#action=share.
"Robotics Pt2." Video file. Youtube. Posted by Uconlineprogram, April 15, 2012.
Accessed July 1, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=oAZ8bo9T_Pk#action=share.
When watching the recommended TEDTalks this week, I was newly introduced to the idea of robots learning, rather than being programmed with all of their knowledge. It vastly increases the potential they can have. As you mentioned, robots and machines are becoming more and more prominent in our lives. In reference to self-parking/driving cars and restaurants that use robots, I'm intrigued that the robots are more accurate than humans. From a business standpoint, robots seem to be the better choice almost every time.
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