In the year 2005, the NDR series robot "Andrew" is introduced into the Martin family home to perform housekeeping and maintenance duties. Over time they discover that Andrew is sentient. Andrew has his face altered so he could convey emotions.

Years later, Andrew asked the Martins for his freedom and goes on a journey to find others like him. Decades later Andrew failed to find any sentient robots but finds Rupert Burns, son of the original NDR robot designer. With Burns, Andrew designs new prosthetic organs for robots.

Over the course of the next century, Andrew uses his prosthetics in an attempt to turn himself into a human, complete with artificial skin, hair and a nervous system. He falls in love with Portia Martin. He petitions the World Congress to recognize him as human, which would allow him and Portia to be legally married but is rejected.

Andrew works with Burns to introduce blood into his system, thereby allowing him to age, and thus he begins to grow old alongside Portia. Andrew again attends the World Congress, now appearing old and frail, and again petitions to be declared a human being. He is finally declared Human moments before his death.