The paper empirically checks Gunkel’s robot rights matrix using a sample of 215 respondents in Bulgaria. It evaluates the matrix on the granular level of 26 separate rights and obligations. The findings revealed that respondents did not think that robots and AI were capable of having rights per se or that they should be given rights. Robots were perceived as slaves without the rights to reproduce, own property, strike, receive a salary, vote or be elected but with the obligations to adhere to regulations and respect humans. Finally, the results showed that respondents did not distinguish completely the ‘can have’ and ‘should have’ options about the respective rights and obligations. Theoretical and policy implications, limitations and future research directions are discussed as well.