Definition: Anthropomorphic being made out of inanimate matter, brought to life through magic incantations.
Origin: Jewish folklore, and Kabbalistic tradition.
Characteristics:
Not necessarily free-thinking agents, likely being controlled by humans from behind the curtains.
Artifical entity. Develops emerging capacities that weren't necessarily baked into the inanimate clay.
"A creature formed out of a lifeless substance such as dust or earth brought to life by ritual incantations and sequences of Hebrew letters. The golem, brought into being by a human creator, becomes a helper, a companion"
Golems are not intelligent; if commanded to perform a task, they will perform the instructions literally. In many depictions, golems are inherently perfectly obedient.
Golem is often used as a metaphor for a mindless lunk or entity that serves a man under controlled conditions but is hostile to him under other conditions.
Contemporary example:
Chat GPT
Carrying a symbolically resonant name (GLLMM), the AI is similarly animated through magic (technology) and contains many of the same characteristics mentioned above.
Monster that is not directly controllable and has baked configurations that weren't baked into it (ability to learn by itself).
Hidden mental processes.
Stupidly obedient (nukes earth to solve climate change).
Honorable Mentions:
Marvel’s Captain America is admittedly a golem.
The Ginger Bread Man, from northern European folklore and Slavic lands.