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🤖 ROBOTS & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: BEYOND THE FILMS — UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY
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🤖 ROBOTS & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: BEYOND THE FILMS — UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY
An Educational Awareness Article by Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA
After reading many of the reactions and negative comments surrounding robotics and Artificial Intelligence research at the University of Malta, I decided to write this article.
Not to argue with anyone.
Not to tell people what they should believe.
But to educate, explain and raise awareness.
Technology is developing rapidly, and it is perfectly reasonable to have questions or concerns about it. However, there is an important difference between questioning technology critically and rejecting scientific research simply because we do not yet understand it.
One of the clearest examples is robotics.
For many people, the word robot immediately brings to mind science-fiction films such as Terminator: machines becoming uncontrollable, replacing human beings or taking over society.
Those films are entertainment.
Robotics is a real scientific and engineering discipline.
And understanding that distinction is where this conversation should begin.
1. What Is a Robot?
Let us start at the simplest level.
A robot is a machine designed and programmed to perform particular functions.
Depending on its design, it may use:
sensors to detect its surroundings;
motors or actuators to move;
software to process information;
cameras or other sensing equipment;
control systems to determine its actions;
and, in some cases, Artificial Intelligence to interpret information or make limited decisions within its designed system.
A robot does not have to look like a human.
A robotic arm in a factory is a robot.
An autonomous mobile machine can be a robot.
A machine designed to inspect a dangerous environment can be a robot.
The human-looking machines we often see in films represent only one possible physical design.
This distinction matters because our understanding of robotics should not be based solely on Hollywood.
2. What Is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is not the same thing as a robot.
AI broadly refers to computational methods that enable systems to perform functions associated with intelligent behaviour, such as recognising patterns, analysing information, processing language, making predictions or selecting actions according to programmed objectives and available data.
A robot can exist without sophisticated AI, and AI can exist without a physical robot.
The AI in a software application, for example, does not require a mechanical body.
When robotics and AI are combined, however, AI techniques can help a robotic system interpret sensor information, recognise aspects of its environment or navigate more autonomously.
That is why the two subjects are closely related — but they are not interchangeable terms.
3. What Are Students Actually Doing at the University of Malta?
This is where facts become particularly important.
On 28 May 2026, second-year Artificial Intelligence students at the University of Malta participated in a robotics competition as part of their Robotics study-unit.
Nine robots competed.
The challenge was to design and program autonomous robots capable of navigating a maze. The robots had to analyse their surroundings, make navigation decisions and attempt to find their way through the course.
That is a practical educational exercise involving programming, sensors, problem-solving, robotics and autonomous systems.
It is not science fiction.
University of Malta — AI Students Put Their Robots to the Test
4. What Do Robotics Students Actually Learn?
The University of Malta's current Robotics 2 study-unit provides an excellent indication of what advanced robotics education actually involves.
Students study areas including robotic simulations, advanced programming, sensor fusion, machine-learning applications in robotics, autonomous navigation and control, and the ethical and social implications of autonomous systems. They work with both simulated and physical robots.
So when we hear the words “autonomous robot,” we should understand what they mean in an engineering context.
Autonomous does not automatically mean an independent machine with human consciousness.
It can mean a system capable of carrying out certain operations or navigating within its environment without requiring a human to manually control every individual movement.
That is a very different concept.
5. Why Develop Robots at All?
Here is another simple question.
Why would we want a machine to perform something instead of a person?
Sometimes the answer is efficiency or precision.
Sometimes it is repetition.
And sometimes the answer is human safety.
Robotic systems can be developed for environments or activities where sending a human being may be difficult, inefficient or dangerous.
This does not mean that robots automatically “replace humanity.”
It means engineers can ask:
Can technology perform or assist with this particular function while reducing risk to people?
That is an entirely different conversation.
6. Does “Autonomous” Mean the Robot Thinks Like a Human?
No.
This is one of the most important misconceptions to address.
When engineers describe a system as autonomous, this does not automatically mean that the machine possesses human consciousness, emotions, personal ambitions or human-style understanding.
For example, the University of Malta students' robots were programmed to navigate a maze autonomously. They analysed their surroundings and made navigation decisions in order to complete a defined challenge.
That does not mean those robots suddenly developed personal desires.
It means they were engineered to operate with a degree of autonomy within a designed task and system.
7. But Should We Be Concerned About AI?
We should certainly ask serious questions.
Education about AI should never become blind enthusiasm for technology.
AI and robotics raise legitimate questions concerning:
Safety.
Privacy.
Bias.
Accountability.
Employment.
Cybersecurity.
Human oversight.
Ethics.
Law.
Responsibility.
These issues deserve serious discussion.
In fact, they are already part of university education and research.
The University of Malta offers a study-unit specifically addressing Ethics and Artificial Intelligence, covering ethical, social and legal dimensions of AI, including responsibility, algorithmic fairness, bias, GDPR and autonomous decision-making.
Its robotics teaching also explicitly addresses safety, economic, ethical and social issues associated with robots.
In January 2026, the University's Department of Artificial Intelligence also organised a public debate bringing students, academics, policymakers and members of the public together to discuss ethical, social and governance challenges surrounding AI.
And in September 2026, the University reported its participation in a European project focused specifically on Ethical and Responsible AI in higher education, research and innovation.
So ethics is not something being ignored while technology advances.
It is part of the conversation.
8. The Problem With Comparing Everything to Terminator.
There is nothing wrong with joking about science fiction.
The problem begins when fiction becomes our primary source of understanding about real technology.
A film is designed to tell a compelling story.
Scientific research is designed to investigate questions systematically.
When every development in robotics is reduced to “Terminator is coming”, we risk losing the opportunity to discuss the questions that genuinely matter.
How safe is the technology?
How reliable is it?
Who is responsible for its operation?
What are its limitations?
Where should humans remain in control?
What regulations are necessary?
How should personal data be protected?
Those are meaningful questions.
9. Human Oversight Still Matters
Technological capability does not eliminate human responsibility.
People design systems.
People determine objectives.
People establish rules and safeguards.
People decide where technologies should or should not be deployed.
And institutions, regulators, researchers and society have responsibilities regarding how powerful technologies are governed.
This is precisely why ethics, regulation, transparency, accountability and human oversight need to develop alongside technological innovation.
Being interested in AI does not require us to believe that AI is perfect.
Being cautious about AI does not require us to reject AI completely.
We can do both:
encourage innovation and demand responsibility.
10. Why Public Education Matters
This, for me, is perhaps the most important part.
People should never feel embarrassed because they do not understand AI or robotics.
These are complicated subjects.
You do not need to be an engineer, programmer or scientist to begin learning about them.
Ask questions.
Read reliable sources.
Listen to specialists.
Compare information.
And if something sounds frightening, investigate what it actually means before reaching a conclusion.
There is a major difference between not knowing something and refusing to learn about it.
Education bridges that gap.
🌍 Awareness Is More Powerful Than Fear
Technology will continue to evolve.
Some developments will bring genuine benefits.
Others will create challenges.
Some applications may deserve strong scrutiny or regulation.
That is exactly why society needs people who are informed rather than frightened, curious rather than dismissive, and critical without being closed-minded.
We should not blindly celebrate every technological development.
But neither should we automatically ridicule research because it sounds unfamiliar.
The responsible position lies in learning, questioning, verifying and understanding.
💭 Reflection
Why are people sometimes afraid of new technology?
Because unfamiliar technology can appear unpredictable, particularly when our understanding of it comes mainly from dramatic fictional representations.
Does questioning AI make someone
anti-technology?
No. Responsible questioning is essential. Safety, ethics, accountability and human oversight should be part of technological development.
Should we accept everything scientists and engineers develop?
No. Research and technology should be examined critically, ethically and responsibly.
What should we do when we do not understand a new technology?
Learn about it from credible sources before forming a firm conclusion.
🎓 Final Lesson & Reflection
The greatest lesson here is not really about robots.
It is about how we respond to knowledge that is new to us.
We can laugh at what we do not understand.
We can fear it.
We can reject it.
Or we can stop, ask questions, learn and then decide what we think based on evidence.
My purpose in writing this article is not to convince everyone to support every form of AI or robotics.
It is to encourage something much more fundamental:
Let us learn before we judge.
Let us separate science fiction from scientific research.
Let us welcome innovation while continuing to demand safety, ethics, accountability and human oversight.
And above all, let us never be afraid to say:
“I don't understand this yet — so I am going to learn.”
That is not ignorance.
That is education. 🤖🧠📚
📚 References & Useful Links
University of Malta (2026) — UM's AI students put their robots to the test in maze-solving competition
This content is original educational material created for learning, awareness and informational purposes. No part of this content, including its text, scripts, concepts, graphics or original presentation, may be copied, reproduced, republished, adapted or distributed without prior permission, except where permitted by applicable copyright law.
Any third-party information, research, quotations, images, trademarks or external sources referenced remain the property of their respective authors, institutions and copyright holders and are acknowledged where applicable.
Author & Content Creator: Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA
START HERE — CHOOSE YOUR LEARNING PATH Welcome. Choose where you would like to begin and use the links below to explore the learning resources that interest you most. 🎓 Explore the Learning Academy 📚 Explore Articles by Subject 🌱 Personal Development & Mindset 🎓 Learning & Education 💙 Health & Wellbeing 💼 Leadership & Workplace 🗣️ Communication Skills 📈 Professional Development 🛡️ Safety & Professional Awareness 👗 Fashion, Elegance & Culture ✈️ Travel & Personal Experiences 🧠 Mental Health Awareness 💜 Fibromyalgia Awareness 🌟 Website Milestones 🎓 Business Administration Learning Academy By Mary Lourdes Bonnici MBA Introduction Welcome to a learning space created to make knowledge accessible, practical, and meaningful for lifelong learners. Whether you are a student, professional, manager, entrepreneur, aspiring leader, or simply someone who enjoys learning, the Business Administration Learning Academy provides practical educational resources to...
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