AI Is Changing How We See Ourselves, New Study Finds
Your sense of self is increasingly shaped by algorithms—here's what that means.
How might AI alter how we understand and experience the self? This scoping review analyzes 102 papers to examine how the self is defined in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI), how AI-self relationships are conceptualized, and what risks emerge when AI becomes entangled with selfhood.
Our synthesis makes three contributions. First, we define AI-mediated self as a conceptual umbrella that connects dispersed work across education, workplace, health, and creative practices.
Second, we consolidate six framings of the self with four domains of ethical risk-agency/autonomy, identity/authorship, relational capacity, and meaning-making-into a conceptual map that provides a reusable vocabulary across contexts. Third, we introduce the Inclusion of AI-Self framework, which situates AI-self relationships along a spectrum of proximity. Together, these contributions position selfhood as a central design space in HCI.
- AI tools are subtly changing how we think about ourselves, often without us noticing.
- The study warns that relying on AI for decisions can reduce our sense of control.
- Designers should make AI more transparent so users can understand its influence.
Why It Matters
Your daily AI interactions may be shaping your identity—knowing this helps you stay in control.