Eye of media ecology on AI

This article contends that the field of media ecology offers the most insightful, historical and comprehensive way of understanding the broad implications of artificial intelligence (AI). With the release of AI into the world, we do not have the same world plus AI; we have a new, rapidly changing, hyper sort of world fraught with concern regarding the unpredictability of this latest modern-tech marvel. Technological advancement and societal change are inseparable dynamics within an ever-evolving ecology of media. That is, they are mutually inclusive . ‘Eye of Media Ecology on AI’ sets forth the premise that an ecological approach to understanding media offers the most inclusive, prescient and humane way of assessing the sweeping cultural and generative rise of ai. Marshall McLuhan’s famous aphorism – the medium is the message – holds true, even in our risky age of AI. The axiom acts as a kind of indisputable law etched in techno-modernity. Yet, AI presents a ponderous twist to McLuhan’s oft-quoted principle. In truth, AI is both medium and message, a medium that carries messages but also a medium that messages. That is new; that is different; that is unnerving. Nevertheless, this dual reality does not wash away McLuhan’s tenet. On the contrary, McLuhan’s concept extends and embraces AI’s twofold wizardry. In McLuhan parlance, one can rightly say that the medium that messages is the message !

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Publication Details

Journal
Explorations in Media Ecology
Published
2024-12-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1386/eme_00222_1
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Misinformation and Its Impacts
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.26
Controls
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article

Eye of media ecology on AI

William E. Jefferson
2 citations
Explorations in Media Ecology
Misinformation and Its Impacts
2.26
article

Eye of media ecology on AI

William E. Jefferson
article en
2 citations

Abstract

This article contends that the field of media ecology offers the most insightful, historical and comprehensive way of understanding the broad implications of artificial intelligence (AI). With the release of AI into the world, we do not have the same world plus AI; we have a new, rapidly changing, hyper sort of world fraught with concern regarding the unpredictability of this latest modern-tech marvel. Technological advancement and societal change are inseparable dynamics within an ever-evolving ecology of media. That is, they are mutually inclusive . ‘Eye of Media Ecology on AI’ sets forth the premise that an ecological approach to understanding media offers the most inclusive, prescient and humane way of assessing the sweeping cultural and generative rise of ai. Marshall McLuhan’s famous aphorism – the medium is the message – holds true, even in our risky age of AI. The axiom acts as a kind of indisputable law etched in techno-modernity. Yet, AI presents a ponderous twist to McLuhan’s oft-quoted principle. In truth, AI is both medium and message, a medium that carries messages but also a medium that messages. That is new; that is different; that is unnerving. Nevertheless, this dual reality does not wash away McLuhan’s tenet. On the contrary, McLuhan’s concept extends and embraces AI’s twofold wizardry. In McLuhan parlance, one can rightly say that the medium that messages is the message !

Explorations in Media EcologyVol. 23(4)
Film Independent (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 9%
Misinformation and Its Impacts
2.26
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