Human-machine communication cultures: Introduction

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) pose a new challenge to existing frameworks in communication and media studies. The new area of inquiry called Human-Machine Communication (HMC) emerged in response to this challenge. HMC, however, is still often declined in the singular form, with relatively little consideration of the fact that communication is always situated in specific cultural, linguistic, and national environments. This special issue of Global Media and China aims to contribute to ongoing efforts to fill this gap by interrogating the plurality of human-machine communication cultures. In this introduction, the guest editors illustrate how a perspective more sensitive to situating these technologies, their impact and functioning across the globe will help develop more effective pathways to study and understand AI. The introduction discusses key theories, methods, and approaches in communication and media studies that can help pursue and advance this endeavor.