AI in folklore and myth: a 16th-century Czech rabbi reportedly created a living clay man whose name became a synonym for an artificial human. What was this legendary figure called?

Introduction / Context:
Long before modern robotics or AI, stories of artificial beings populated folklore. These narratives reveal enduring cultural themes about creation, control, and responsibility—issues that still resonate in contemporary AI ethics and design debates.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Timeframe: 16th century.
• Origin: Prague, associated with a Czech (Jewish) rabbi.
• The figure is a man formed of clay and animated through mystical means.

Concept / Approach:
The legend of the Golem of Prague, often attributed to Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel (the Maharal), tells of a clay being brought to life to protect the community. The term “golem” has since become shorthand for an artificial human fashioned by human hands rather than natural birth.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Match the cultural origin and century to the correct legend.Differentiate from later literary inventions (e.g., Frankenstein in the 19th century).Select “Golem” as the answer that fits the folkloric description.Confirm other names are either authors, characters from different eras, or fictional AIs (e.g., HAL 9000).

Verification / Alternative check:
Cultural histories and literature studies consistently reference the Golem of Prague for this narrative; related tales emphasize inscriptions or divine names used to animate the clay figure.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Frankenstein: Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, later than the 16th century and not a clay man.

Paracelsus: Renaissance figure (alchemist/physician), a person not an artificial being.

Hal: Fictional AI from “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

None of the above: incorrect since “Golem” is correct.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing Frankenstein (the scientist) with the unnamed creature; also misplacing time periods between Renaissance folklore and modern literature.

Final Answer:
Golem