A phenomenological study of generative AI–human communication: The ChatGPT experience of a female researcher in her 30s

Jiyeong Kim

Yonsei University

Abstract

This phenomenological and sociolinguistic study investigates current human perceptions of dialogue with generative artificial intelligence (AI), focusing on intellectual, emotional, and moral dimensions. Participants were female humanities and social sciences researchers in their thirties with extensive AI experience. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews based on real-time interaction with ChatGPT and analyzed using Moustakas’ (1994) framework. Results indicate that AI was construed as a strategic collaborator restructuring information into research insights and as a creative mediator integrating diverse resources to generate solutions in academic, professional, and interpersonal contexts. Trust in AI, however, remained conditional, reflecting recognition of its limited autonomy and restricted reliability in expert domains. Emotionally and morally, AI was consistently framed as a non-agentive, emotionally neutral entity. Its affective expressions were interpreted as imitations rather than authentic emotions, and interactions were evaluated through human-centered criteria of utility, risk, and safety. This study provides phenomenological insights into human–AI interaction, showing that humans primarily view AI as an instrumental tool bounded by efficiency and safety. Ultimately, it raises a fundamental question: what constitutes genuine interaction between humans and AI, establishing a basis for future ethical discourse and development.

현상학으로 본 생성형 AI와 인간의 의사소통 : 30대 여성 학문 연구자의 ChatGPT 사용 경험을 중심으로

초록

Vol. 40 No. 4 (2022.12)

Journal Abbreviation j. Korea Saf. Manag. Sci.
Frequency Published four times annually in March, June, September, and December
Doi Prefix 10.14353/sjk.
Year of Launching 1993
Publisher The Sociolinguistic Society of Korea

Indexed/Tracked/Covered By