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Defining the Voice of Montreal: Exploring Possibilities for Human-Machine Companionship

Dehbi Talbot, Malik LU (2020) TKAM02 20201
Division of Ethnology
Abstract
This thesis explores the possibility for (re)defining the relationship between humans and robots with conversational interfaces. It does so by looking at the creation process of a voice and text-based virtual assistant for tourists from the perspective of critical posthumanism and posthuman performativity. In a reflexive fashion, I analyze my involvement in a tech start-up, in order to argue that, rather than being ontologically separated, the boundaries between humans and machines are culturally and historically constructed. Moreover, through a closer look at the development of my own relationship with the prototype of the voicebot and my performance of ‘demos’ among uninitiated users, I put forward a relational understanding of how... (More)
This thesis explores the possibility for (re)defining the relationship between humans and robots with conversational interfaces. It does so by looking at the creation process of a voice and text-based virtual assistant for tourists from the perspective of critical posthumanism and posthuman performativity. In a reflexive fashion, I analyze my involvement in a tech start-up, in order to argue that, rather than being ontologically separated, the boundaries between humans and machines are culturally and historically constructed. Moreover, through a closer look at the development of my own relationship with the prototype of the voicebot and my performance of ‘demos’ among uninitiated users, I put forward a relational understanding of how humans and machines become with - and constantly remake - each other. This allows me to redefine our relationship with intelligent artefacts beyond mere instrumentality, towards a form of human-machine companionship that highlights the potential of the relationship. Finally, through a practical engagement with the idea of posthuman responsibility, I analyse the effects of specific features of the voicebot and imagine how the boundaries between human and machines can be re-configured in a more responsible way. Amongst other things, this allows us to re-contextualize labor relations associated with service work and product development, with respects to how these practices shape gender and race. The thesis concludes by stating the relevance of these results for the fields of tourism and product development. (Less)
Abstract (French)
Cette thèse explore les possibilités de redéfinir la relation entre les humains et les robots dotés d’interface conversationnels. Je m’attarde plus particulièrement au processus de création d’un assistant virtuel pour touriste en adoptant une perspective critique dite post-humaniste. J’analyse d'une manière réflexive mon implication dans un startup œuvrant dans le domaine de l'intelligence artificielle pour soutenir que la séparation entre les humains et les machines est issue d’un contexte culturel et historique bien particulier, plutôt qu’essentielle. D’autant plus, à travers un regard plus attentif au développement de ma relation avec le prototype du voicebot et ma performance des démonstrations auprès des utilisateurs, je met de... (More)
Cette thèse explore les possibilités de redéfinir la relation entre les humains et les robots dotés d’interface conversationnels. Je m’attarde plus particulièrement au processus de création d’un assistant virtuel pour touriste en adoptant une perspective critique dite post-humaniste. J’analyse d'une manière réflexive mon implication dans un startup œuvrant dans le domaine de l'intelligence artificielle pour soutenir que la séparation entre les humains et les machines est issue d’un contexte culturel et historique bien particulier, plutôt qu’essentielle. D’autant plus, à travers un regard plus attentif au développement de ma relation avec le prototype du voicebot et ma performance des démonstrations auprès des utilisateurs, je met de l’avant une compréhension relationnelle du processus par lequel les humains et les machines sont inter-reliés dans leur devenir. C’est dans cette optique que je redéfinis notre relation avec les machines au-delà de la simple instrumentalité, vers une forme de camaraderie mutuelle. Finalement, j’analyse les effets de certaines fonctionnalités du robot afin d’imaginer comment la séparation entre les humains et les machines pourrait être reconfigurée d’une façon plus responsable. Cela me permet entre autres de re-contextualiser les relations de travail encodées dans le développement de tels produits. Je termine en soulevant la pertinence de ces résultats pour les secteurs du tourisme et du développement de produit. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Dehbi Talbot, Malik LU
supervisor
organization
course
TKAM02 20201
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
critical posthumanism, artificial intelligence, virtual assistant, tourism, science and technology studies, human-machine relationships, voicebot, labor relations, companion, sociomaterial assemblage
language
English
id
9030764
date added to LUP
2020-10-16 10:05:16
date last changed
2020-10-16 10:05:21
@misc{9030764,
  abstract     = {{This thesis explores the possibility for (re)defining the relationship between humans and robots with conversational interfaces. It does so by looking at the creation process of a voice and text-based virtual assistant for tourists from the perspective of critical posthumanism and posthuman performativity. In a reflexive fashion, I analyze my involvement in a tech start-up, in order to argue that, rather than being ontologically separated, the boundaries between humans and machines are culturally and historically constructed. Moreover, through a closer look at the development of my own relationship with the prototype of the voicebot and my performance of ‘demos’ among uninitiated users, I put forward a relational understanding of how humans and machines become with - and constantly remake - each other. This allows me to redefine our relationship with intelligent artefacts beyond mere instrumentality, towards a form of human-machine companionship that highlights the potential of the relationship. Finally, through a practical engagement with the idea of posthuman responsibility, I analyse the effects of specific features of the voicebot and imagine how the boundaries between human and machines can be re-configured in a more responsible way. Amongst other things, this allows us to re-contextualize labor relations associated with service work and product development, with respects to how these practices shape gender and race. The thesis concludes by stating the relevance of these results for the fields of tourism and product development.}},
  author       = {{Dehbi Talbot, Malik}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Defining the Voice of Montreal: Exploring Possibilities for Human-Machine Companionship}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}