I just watched Overly Sarcastic Productions video about robots and it brings up the robots-coded-as-autists problem (and aro/ace people. It helps that Red is ace) It's what actually make me search for it and finding this blog.
I'm sorry we weren't able to answer your ask until now!
I just watched that video (found here) and I definitely agree with everything Red was saying.
In summary, the host, Red, talked about tropes regarding robots and humanity. Typically, when creators write robots, they take human traits and remove specific traits: removing emotions, the ability to understand humor, empathy, and removing sexuality. The problem is that this is how the audience can see the robots as sub-human, since they "have no humanity". These robot characters, with the exception of Baymax from Big Hero 6, are the villains, and their lack of humanity causes them to "desire" to destroy it.
This can also relate to asexual and aromantic people, like anon said, because people consider them to be "lacking" sexuality as well, and compare them to robots.
I am both autistic and ace and have been compared to a robot many times in my childhood. Many autistic people are aro/ace as well.
It is definitely an issue, comparing autistic people to "soulless robots", and we definitely need better representation to see ourselves in, and for others to see us in.