AI narratives in popular culture and media reporting

Pascal D. Koenig ()

Chapter 5 in Understanding the Politics of Artificial Intelligence, 2025, pp 56-66 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Narratives about AI that circulate in society can shape what ideas and expectations people have regarding the technology. They can also become relevant for how political actors approach AI and how seriously they take risks that are linked to the technology. This chapter examines what narratives about AI exist in popular culture and media reporting. It points to the important role of fictional depictions and metaphors in popular narratives regarding AI and traces modern narratives about AI as a risk technology back to older narratives about artificial life and creations. The chapter also describes major patterns in media reporting about AI, looking at trends over time, the overall tone of reporting, and key themes. Finally, it discusses to what extent narratives about AI contribute to AI being a political issue – or even lead to AI being politicised.

Keywords: Discourse; Popular culture; Science fiction; Media; News; Metaphors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035348015
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