This sculpture by Canadian Louis-Philippe Demers has a single purpose, which is to follow a passer-by with its creepy robot eyes. I don't see it as much of a threat, though it sounds profoundly disconcerting.
Photo by AP/Alastair Grant

You probably recognize the T-800 Endoskeleton robot from "Terminator Salvation." While it would be somewhat apt for this fictional robot to wrest control of our world away from us, I think it is unlikely, as the franchise has served as a cautionary tale for viewers all around the world since 1984. I like to think we would see it coming.
Photo by Getty/Carl Court

This is a Telenoid communication android from Japan and I fear it. The implication that it needs no hands or feet to accomplish its goals is daunting, and I imagine that life under its rule would be bleak and terrifying.
Photo by Getty/Carl Court

I'm looking at this Kodomoroid communications android from Japan and I am on firm footing on the far side of the Uncanny Valley. Which is not good news. Judging from this photo, we will probably want to keep our eyes on the eyelashes of our presidential candidates in the future. Much like the hands of the robots in the original "Westworld" movie, they will hopefully remain a dead giveaway.
Photo by Getty/Carl Court

The Toyota Motor Corporation made this little guy in 2005 and gave him the name "Harry Trumpet - Player Robot." It sounds to me as if this robot is single-purpose, and the fact that I haven't heard of him leads me to believe that his playing isn't rapturous and/or brainwashing in nature. Nothing to fear here.
Photo by Getty/Ben Stansall

This is Robothespian, created by Engineered Arts in 2016. According to their site, it is the perfect "robotic partner for your research, entertainment or communication needs." These are the areas of advancement that strike a deep fear in me, and in spite of his mournful and languorous expression, I could actually see him ascending the ranks of global power. Let's keep an eye on this one.
Photo by Getty/Ben Stansall

I've been meaning to watch "Metropolis" for years (I know, I know...). Similar to the "Terminator" robot, though, I think that the Maschinenmensch from Fritz Lang's 1927 movie is likely too familiar to us as a symbol of technological dystopia to cause much of a threat.
Photo by Getty/Ben Stansall

This is engineer Rob Knight's creation, who goes by the breezy name 'Rob's Open Source Android.' It's that "open source" part that triggers a profound panic — will we be collectively assisting in the evolution of our own despotic rulers? Of course we will.
Photo by Getty/Ben Stansall

I wasn't able to find much out about this horrifying animatronic baby, but I take comfort in the knowledge that it is in a public exhibition in a large museum, meaning it is not being kept a secret from us. Life under a despotic robot baby would be the worst kind of life, so let's just move on the next slide and pretend this never happened.
Photo by Getty/Carl Court

These are early Spanish robot prototypes, and it looks to me as if they need wires to hold them upright. Not exactly awe-inspiring, and for this reason alone I consider these fellows unthreatening to the basic tenets of human civilization.
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This "articulated manikin" was made in Italy in 1582. It is being displayed in the "Robots" exhibit but this is not a robot, it is a vaguely human-shaped metal cage and thus does not frighten me in the least.
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Meet Inkha, the (and I quote) mischievous robotic receptionist. Clearly Inkha is not attempting to "pass" as human, and my guess is that her mischievousness is quaint, dated and non-violent.
Photo by Getty/Carl Court

This robot would otherwise be extremely terrifying, but the "Emergency Stop" switch gives me great relief and solace. Unless it is a switch that actually initiates Accelerated Global Conquest Mode, which would actually make a lot of sense, when you think about it...
Photo by Getty/Carl Court