Narrative-based human–artificial collaboration. A reflection on narratives as a framework for enhancing human–machine social relations.

This paper aims at reflecting on human–artificial intelligence (AI) collaboration in the process of cultural production and depicts the collective socio-cultural imaginary focusing on humans’ intrinsic vulnerabilities related to AI systems, which are often perceived as a way of reshaping human presence within contemporary society. Abandoning an anthropocentric perspective, contemporary ecosystems should include non-human and AI systems, and our hypothesis states that the interactions among them could be re-shaped adopting a narrative framework. Humans are social animals: thanks to narratives that welcome plurality, sociality can be extended to include AI systems. Considering such premises, relationships between humans and AI may also enrich existing relational ecosystems with new meanings that challenge and redefine the limits of what is considered socially acceptable. The intention is to propose an integration of narrative tools and world building practice within interaction design processes: reading storytelling as a mindset and as a tool, to underline the crucial role of narrative in supporting the emotional dialogue among humans and AI systems, creating an overall sense of belonging between human and non-human actors.