<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This article investigates the media's construction of public perceptions of future human–machine relationships related to artificial intelligence (AI) development and reflects on how such perceptions play a role in shaping strategies for the use of AI in Denmark. Through a critical discourse analysis of 253 newspaper and magazine articles published from 1956 to 2021, it shows how conflicting discursive positions are constructed, representing what I refer to as public AI imaginaries. The analysis shows that newspapers and magazines tend not to distinguish between futuristic descriptions of the human–machine relationship of AI and the human-centred principles of intelligence amplification (IA). Furthermore, it demonstrates how principles of IA are reflected in the Danish strategies for AI in practice. While the discursive ambiguity has fuelled public debate, it leaves the term AI relatively vague, thereby creating uncertainty rather than possibilities for a form of human-centered AI in empirical reality.</p>
</abstract>

This article investigates the media's construction of public perceptions of future human–machine relationships related to artificial intelligence (AI) development and reflects on how such perceptions play a role in shaping strategies for the use of AI in Denmark. Through a critical discourse analysis of 253 newspaper and magazine articles published from 1956 to 2021, it shows how conflicting discursive positions are constructed, representing what I refer to as public AI imaginaries. The analysis shows that newspapers and magazines tend not to distinguish between futuristic descriptions of the human–machine relationship of AI and the human-centred principles of intelligence amplification (IA). Furthermore, it demonstrates how principles of IA are reflected in the Danish strategies for AI in practice. While the discursive ambiguity has fuelled public debate, it leaves the term AI relatively vague, thereby creating uncertainty rather than possibilities for a form of human-centered AI in empirical reality.

Public AI imaginaries: How the debate on artificial intelligence was covered in Danish newspapers and magazines 1956–2021

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

This article investigates the media's construction of public perceptions of future human–machine relationships related to artificial intelligence (AI)...

Years	Number of articles	%
1956–1959	0	n.a.
1960–1969	0	n.a.
1970–1979	0	n.a.
1980–1989	9	4
1990–1999	39	15
2000–2009	46	18
2010–2019	147	58
2020–2021	12	5
Total	253	100

Medium	Outlet	Number of articles	%
Newspapers	Politiken	46	21
	Berlingske Tidende	41	19
	Jyllands-Posten	40	18
	Information	36	17
	Weekendavisen	23	11
	Kristeligt Dagblad	11	5
	Børsen	8	4
	Ekstrabladet	4	2
	Avisen Danmark	3	1
	B.T.	3	1
	Arbejderen	2	1
	Total	217	100

Magazines	Ingeniøren	12	33
	Alt om Data	7	19
	Prosabladet	6	17
	Computerworld	5	14
	Medicoteknik	3	8
	Automatik & Proces	1	3
	Teknisk Nyt	1	3
	Teknovation	1	3
	Total	36	100

Public AI imaginaries: How the debate on artificial intelligence was covered in Danish newspapers and magazines 1956–2021

Pubblicato online: 12 mar 2022

Pagine: 56 - 78

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2022-0004

Parole chiave
imaginaries, artificial intelligence, intelligence amplification, public discourse, human–machine relationship

© 2022 Sne Scott Hansen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Number of AI articles in sampled media per decade

Number of AI articles in sampled media, by outlet

Public AI imaginaries: How the debate on artificial intelligence was covered in Danish newspapers and magazines 1956–2021

Pubblicato online: 12 mar 2022

Pagine: 56 - 78

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2022-0004

Parole chiaveimaginaries, artificial intelligence, intelligence amplification, public discourse, human–machine relationship

© 2022 Sne Scott Hansen, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Number of AI articles in sampled media per decade

Number of AI articles in sampled media, by outlet

Parole chiave
imaginaries, artificial intelligence, intelligence amplification, public discourse, human–machine relationship