I-It, I-Thou, I-Robot: The Perceived Humanness of AI in Human-Machine Communication

ABSTRACT

As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies become more common and capable interaction partners (human-machine communication; HMC), understanding how people perceive and interact with them becomes increasingly important to study. This essay argues that one important avenue for this study is the application of relevant interpersonal and computer-mediated communication (CMC) theories. The paper suggests that these theories are relevant because the Computers as Social Actors (CASA) approach has shown that people tend to respond to technologies as they do to other people. It summarizes some theories that may be especially useful for future study in this field. Finally, a case is made that the study of AI and HMC may also be important for greater understanding of the human-human communication process as well.

KEYWORDS:

• Artificial intelligence
• robots
• turing test
• impression formation
• computers as social actors
• interpersonal communication

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Westerman

David Westerman (Ph.D., Michigan State University) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University. His research focuses on how people communicate through and with technology.

Autumn P. Edwards

Autumn P. Edwards (Ph.D., Ohio University) is Professor in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University and Co-director of the Communication and Social Robotics Labs (combotlabs.org). Her research addresses human-machine communication with an emphasis on how ontological considerations, or beliefs about the nature of communicators and communication, both shape and are shaped by interactions with digital interlocutors.

Chad Edwards

Chad Edwards (Ph.D., University of Kansas) is a professor of communication in the School of Communication at Western Michigan University. His research interests include human-machine communication, human-robot interaction, artificial intelligence, and instructional communication.

Zhenyang Luo

Zhenyang Luo (MA, West Virginia University) is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication at North Dakota State University. Her research interests include communication and technology, media psychology, human-robot interaction, and game studies.

Patric R. Spence

Patric R. Spence (Ph.D., Wayne State University) is an associate professor of communication at the University of Central Florida.