Dialogue with Artificial Intelligence: A Philosophical Reflection on Human Interaction with Conversational Systems

This study adopts a philosophical approach to examine the feasibility of genuine dialogue between humans and AI-driven conversational systems. It delves into the existential dimensions of human-machine interactions, exploring the conditions under which such dialogues might be considered authentic. To this end, the paper outlines various modes of human-machine interaction, providing a concise typology to facilitate analysis.

An analytical framework grounded in the philosophies of dialogue theorists is presented to assess conversations with AI. At the linguistic level, drawing upon speech act theory and the cooperative principles of analytical philosophy of language, the study argues that despite generating complex language, these systems lack intentionality. At the existential level, it is demonstrated that the absence of embodiment and lived experience in AI challenges the possibilities of "understanding" and "authentic presence."

Empirical analysis of user interactions with ChatGPT identifies three levels of engagement: instrumental, quasi-dialogue, and boundary interactions. These categories suggest that while intelligent systems can simulate the linguistic form of dialogue, they fall short of achieving true dialogical interaction.

In conclusion, inspired by the philosophies of Gadamer and Wittgenstein regarding "in-betweenness" and "boundaries," the study reinterprets the divide between human and artificial intelligence as a fluid and context-dependent structure. Ultimately, this research posits that dialogue with AI is not merely a technical issue but a philosophical, ethical, and linguistic challenge that necessitates a redefinition of fundamental concepts within these systems and dialogue theories.

Keywords: Dialogue, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational Systems Understanding, Presence, In-betweenness