See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil — The Story Behind "3 Wise Robots"
I have always loved old tin robots.
There is something irresistible about those chunky, wide-eyed mechanical toys from the 1950s and 60s — built from pressed tin, painted in primary colours, wound up with a key and sent wobbling across the floor. They were humanity's first attempt to imagine a friendly machine. Optimistic. Harmless. Charming.
When I ran my graphic design business VR Media, I created this piece as a playful nod to the company name — three classic tin robots bearing vintage VR Electronics branding, posed in the age-old arrangement of see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
At the time it was a bit of fun. A wink at the old rules of how to look after your robot.
But the longer I sat with it, the more the message shifted. Because those three old principles — be careful what you look at, what you listen to, what you say — turn out to be exactly the right rules for the age of AI too.
What we show the machine. What we let it hear. What we ask it to say on our behalf.
The three wise robots have been around this block before. They know something we are still figuring out.
This piece works in a child's bedroom as a cheerful piece of retro fun. It works just as well above a developer's desk as a quiet reminder that the wisest thing about a machine is usually the person who built it.
The robots are watching. Are we being wise enough?
Bring the 3 Wise Robots Into Your Space
Available as canvas, framed canvas and art print options.