Posthuman Cartography? Rethinking Artificial Intelligence, Cartographic Practices, and Reflexivity

Yue Lin and Bo Zhao

Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 2025, vol. 115, issue 3, 499-512

Abstract: Artificial intelligence (AI) is catalyzing growing disruptions in contemporary cartography and beyond. Unlike previous mapping technologies, the current wave of AI enables producing maps without explicit programmed rules, which extends and, in some cases, surpasses human intelligence. This transformative capacity has the potential to reshape not only the practices of map-making but also the power structures of the actors involved. In this light, we propose posthuman cartography as a potential perspective to examine the emerging trend in cartography characterized by a codependency between human and machine intelligences. This theoretical perspective challenges traditional human-centric approaches, proposing instead to view mapping as a network of relations that include both human and nonhuman actors. It also highlights the importance of recognizing AI as significant actors in mapping praxes, as well as the need to acknowledge the shifting power structures influenced by AI. We further advocate for a reflexive approach that tackles the ethical challenges posed by AI and other technological disruptions in contemporary cartography.

Date: 2025
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/24694452.2024.2435920 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:raagxx:v:115:y:2025:i:3:p:499-512

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/raag21

DOI: 10.1080/24694452.2024.2435920

Access Statistics for this article

Annals of the American Association of Geographers is currently edited by Jennifer Cassidento

More articles in Annals of the American Association of Geographers from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().