Ontological Boundaries between Humans and Computers and the Implications for Human-Machine Communication

TLDR

Human-machine communication involves interacting with partners that possess a different ontological nature than humans. The study investigates how people conceptualize ontological differences between humans and computers and how these conceptualizations shape their interactions with communicative technologies. Qualitative interviews with 73 U.S.

Abstract

In human-machine communication, people interact with a communication partner that is of a different ontological nature from themselves. This study examines how people conceptualize ontological differences between humans and computers and the implications of these differences for human-machine communication. Findings based on data from qualitative interviews with 73 U.S. adults regarding disembodied artificial intelligence (AI) technologies (voice-based AI assistants, automated-writing software) show that people differentiate between humans and computers based on origin of being, degree of autonomy, status as tool/tool-user, level of intelligence, emotional capabilities, and inherent flaws. In addition, these ontological boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred as technologies emulate more human-like qualities, such as emotion. This study also demonstrates how people’s conceptualizations of the human-computer divide inform aspects of their interactions with communicative technologies.