TV is speculating on the future of robotics. Here in the UK, Channel 4’s ‘Humans’ shows a future where people have their own household ‘synthetics’ to help them with chores. Alternatively, across the pond, HBO’s ‘Westworld’ shows a future where holidaymakers can visit a constructed world filled with robotic ‘hosts’. But do these TV programmes show us what the future holds for us?

The premise of Westworld is that in a technologically developed near future, a theme park has been constructed with a western theme, housed by ‘hosts’ – androids who look like human beings. Holidaymakers visit the park and interact with the hosts, and act without inhibition in a consequence free realm. They kill and harm the ‘hosts’ but then a clean-up crew comes along, fixes them up, and puts them back on the floor of the park for more visitors to enjoy. In Westworld’s view of the future, the robots are entirely contained within Westworld – there are no humanoid robots roaming around freely in the outside world. They belong exclusively to the park. They also have their memories wiped so they have no idea they’re living the same storylines over and over again for the benefit of the guests. In Westworld, the hosts are used as entertainment, in a leisure setting, and nothing more.

The roles of robots in Westworld and Humans are very different. In Westworld, the robots are kept in the park, whereas they are integrated in daily life in Humans. The storyline in Humans revolves around a family who buy a synth for help around the house, only to later find out that the synth is conscious. While in Westworld, the hosts’ robotic nature is kept from them, in Humans the synths are fully aware that they are not human. They will even remind humans around them of this fact. In Westworld, the hosts are for entertainment, in Humans the robots are workers, working as housekeepers, factory workers and receptionists.

So are either of these potential futures likely to happen?

It seems that robotics companies are moving away from creating humanoid robots. This is not due to lack of ability or failures of technology, but more to do with consumer demand. Consumers just don’t want robots that look like us. We find human-like robots creepy and uncomfortable.

Instead, robotics companies are going in different directions, with robots like Kuri – a cute household robot that rolls around on wheels. We also have household assistants like the Amazon Echo – which has a human voice, but notably no physical presence. It seems we don’t mind having humanoid voices in our homes, but not humanoid bodies.

While imagining the futures of Westworld and Humans is interesting, it seems unlikely that consumers will ever allow these ideas to come to fruition. Human beings just don’t want humanoid robots in their lives and homes.