Fiction Constructs Six Recurrent Models of AI and Human Coexistence

The study published in AI & SOCIETY by Junichi Hoshino examines how fictional AI characters shape cultural imagination and readiness to consider the coexistence of AI and humans. The idea is that stories not only entertain but also offer audiences 'prototypes' of what kinds of relationships with AI can be imagined.

The material consisted of 42 works ranging from ancient mythology to contemporary films, anime, and games. Hoshino analyzes AI characters specifically as narrative constructs: they are given agency, emotional expression, or social roles that guide the viewer's and reader's interpretation.

The works were reviewed using a descriptive coding framework across four dimensions of relationality. These were the mode of address (how AI is referred to or addressed), the structure of the relationship (what kind of bond is formed between humans and AI), autonomy (how independent the character is presented), and the depth of emotions (what kind of emotional dimension the character and relationship have).

The analysis identified six recurring narrative types: tools, helpers, caregivers, partners, seekers, and surpassers. These further grouped into three broader phases of coexistence: instrumental, relational, and autonomous. The study also highlights the concept of 'typological transition,' which describes how AI characters can move from one type or phase to another as the story progresses.

Source: Fictional prototypes of AI–human coexistence and relationality, AI & SOCIETY.