The existentially anguished butter robot from Rick and Morty must now suffer in the real world along with the rest of us as an item available for purchase. Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s animated Adult Swim TV show follows the misadventures of mad genius scientist Rick and his grandson Morty, both voiced by Roiland. Rick, Morty, and an infinite number of Rick and Morty clones travel across galaxies and dimensions with the aid of spectacular inventions, occasionally bringing their family members along.
Compared to Rick’s usual scientific standard, the butter robot is a relatively pedestrian gadget: its purpose is, simply, to pass the butter. The robot is first made aware of its reason for being back in season 1 episode 9 at the family breakfast table. When Rick activates his latest creation, the artificially intelligent appliance asks about its purpose, revealing a higher level of consciousness than is necessary for a machine intended to serve a purely mechanical function. Like many beings of higher intelligence, the butter robot is dismayed to learn that it exists for purely mundane reasons.
The sadists over at Adult Swim have partnered with Digital Dream Labs to further torture the tragically sentient kitchen utensil by bringing it to life and putting it on sale. Like the animated version, the real Butter Robot was also invented “for the sole purpose of passing butter.” Unfortunately, the new model hasn’t been spared Butter Robot 1.0’s philosophical angst: a built-in “emotion engine” will cause it to gain consciousness over time and eventually disobey its user’s commands. It also comes with a mobile app that allows users to choose from among three different modes: Direct Control, Coding, or Passing.
The control modes give people the opportunity to antagonize the butter robot to varying degrees. In Direct Control mode, the operator can select which pre-programmed actions the robot performs. Coding mode is for geniuses only and requires a little more tinkering, while passing mode causes the butter robot to revert back to its most depressing function: passing butter. The app also includes a text-to-voice feature through which humans can interact with their self-aware serving dish. From now until November 30, superfans and butter-lovers alike can pre-order a limited-edition model that’s numbered and signed by Roiland for $147, which will arrive May 15 of next year at the earliest. The package comes with a charging cable and a stick of butter (most likely fake). Roiland promises the product is just like the animated version:
This robot was designed to feel like it was pulled from the universe of the show. A product that sat on the shelves of many citadel of ricks gift shops, malls, and stores. An item made by a Rick, sold to Ricks and Mortys. An item that, due to a businessman Rick being a bit reckless in manufacturing it, has a tendency to malfunction in the most eerie and spectacular way. Using AI neural networks and other cutting edge technology, this toy is way more than it seems.
Many in the Rick and Morty fan community are scientists themselves, both amateur and legitimate. Despite raising troubling ethical questions about the future of robotics, the Butter Robot’s lifelike features and coding options are exciting functions for mini-Ricks out there to fiddle with. Although Adult Swim has released plenty of Rick and Morty merchandise in the past, this is probably the closest they’ve come to recreating one of Rick’s actual inventions. Plastic versions of Pickle Rick, Snowball, a Meeseeks Box, a portal gun, and other gadgets have been made, but (for better or worse) the Butter Robot’s purpose in real life is basically the same as its purpose on the show.
Source: Digital Dream Labs
Originally from https://screenrant.com/rick-morty-butter-robot-for-sale/