Dozy:
I find your objection rather empty.
HAL (a fictional computer meant to work on a fictional spacecraft) served the same function as an autopilot does, which is to relieve the crew of X amount of tedious functions in pursuit of their mission being. HAL is used metaphorically, as a symbol of the dangers of overreliance on automation. (Who the hell is flying the plane: the pilots or HAL?)
Early autopilots were often referred to as "George" for a reason that I think goes to slang of the time: "Let George do it" was a throwaway phrase from about the time my dad was in college, 40's - 50's. Are you going to object to that as well?
Note: overreliance on automation has come to the attention of the FAA, in a negative sense, of late ... I'll suggest to you that AF 447 is a fruit from the tree of the overreilance on automation, which seems to have at its root a non trivial number of airline company SOPs.