Symbolic Interaction and AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI), an umbrella term that includes any device capable of emulating or even exceeding human capabilities, emerged as computer technologies became more sophisticated and complex. Recent rapid developments in AI have utilized the pattern-matching capacity to create words, images, and sounds, often referred to as Generative AI. In 2022, Open-AI unveiled ChatGPT, a computer program designed to simulate conversation with users. After receiving input from users, ChatGPT displayed the capacity to provide lifelike answers, that appeared filled with human insight.

Given the rapid advancement of AI in transforming social life, authors in this volume explore the implications of the emergent interaction between humans and AI technologies. They each provide a fine-grain view of the social forms associated with the use of AI technologies, using symbolic interactionist concepts such as identity, reflexivity, the self, the generalized other, time, place, and more as pivots of analysis.

Symbolic Interaction and AI demonstrates the utilities of symbolic interactionist theorizing in understanding the consequences of AI use in social life, as well as how the research of AI technologies could enhance the development of symbolic interactionist theories.

Shing-Ling S. Chen is Professor of Mass Communication in the Department of Communication and Media at the University of Northern Iowa, USA. Trained by Carl J. Couch as a symbolic interactionist, she studies information technologies and social orders, as well as communication processes and social relationships.