Date of Award

Spring 5-10-2024

Document Type

Honors Project

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Communication and Digital Studies

Department Chair or Program Director

Rao, Anand

First Advisor

Johnson-Young, Elizabeth

Major or Concentration

Communication and Digital Studies

Abstract

Serving as a metaphorical gateway transcending the communicative barriers of physical relationships in interpersonal dialogues, artificial imators of human behavior and speech, also known as conversational chatbots; a simulation of human knowledge and existence in a bi-directional conversation, functions as a rhetor of expression. Spanning from contexts of professional to romantic, I serve to dissect and critically analyze the nuances of human-machine relationships based on pre-established literature, inviting ethical considerations and biases in their design and marketing. Corporate influences spark pre-established servitude-esque relationships with conversational agents. Professional applications, both task-oriented and emotionally based alike, paint a mixed picture of longevity and evidence of lacking real-life solutions. Considering cooperative game environments, I discuss modern implementations of artificial intelligence and its influence on immersion. I discern a push away from technological reliance and a focus upon human-human interaction. Modern and historical representations of artificial intelligence are discussed, and considerations for further research served regarding potential feasibility for long-term human-machine relations.

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