The Science of Fiction. Human-Robot Interaction in McEwan's Machines Like Me

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Abstract

This article focuses on human-robot interaction and anthropomorphism in Ian McEwan’s Machines Like Me. After considering the novel’s reception among scientists, reviewers and readers, the first section analyzes the uses of digression in the text, the counterfactual mode, and how they affect the representation of human-robot interaction. The second section explores the tension between the myth and reality of AI, arguing that the novel provides salient commentary on ‘dishonest anthropomorphism’ while parading the idea of machine consciousness, via the diegetic presence of Alan Turing.


open access | peer reviewed

Presentato: 07 Luglio 2022 | Accettato: 15 Ottobre 2022 | Pubblicato 13 Aprile 2023 | Lingua: en

Keywords Artificial Intelligence • <div>Human-robot Interaction • Ian Mc­Ewan • Anthropomorphism • Fiction • Human-robot Interaction

Copyright © 2022 Silvana Colella. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/EL/2420-823X/2022/01/008