The sense of agency in human-computer interaction
- Date in the past
- Friday, 31. January 2025, 16:00 - 17:30
- Online
- Dr. Sofia Bonicalzi
The sense of agency, which is a subject of lively debate in philosophy and cognitive sciences, refers to the subjective experience of controlling one's actions and their effects on the external world. As such, the sense of agency is thought to represent a key element of the feeling of autonomy and responsibility in decision-making and action. Research indicates that the sense of agency is influenced by factors such as the fluency of the action selection process, the outcomes of those actions, and the presence of other individuals. Recently, several studies have explored how interacting with artificial (and potentially intelligent) devices may impact the sense of agency and autonomy, particularly when devices perceived as having their own intentionality are involved. While some research suggests that these interactions can diminish the sense of agency, raising important ethical considerations about our experience as authors of our actions, there is also evidence that when computer assistance is limited and allows for human initiative, the sense of agency can be preserved. In this talk, I will emphasize the importance of designing technological systems that support the agent's internal locus of control. In particular, I will argue that although interactions with artificial devices can effectively reduce the sense of agency, with potentially nefarious implications for autonomy, balanced interactions that allow for human initiative can sustain or even increase our agentive capabilities, enabling control over the environment.
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Talk