Ontology of Social Robots: Framing Analysis of News Coverage by The New York Times

• In Event: Understanding Augmented Reality, Social Agents, and Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

This study aims to find out how robotic ontology is constructed in mainstream news media. Nineteen news reports on social robots from The New York Times were analyzed to answer how news media frame issues about social robots and what are their assumptions about robotic ontology. Qualitative framing analysis with constant comparative method revealed three emerging frames, i.e. “robots as useful”, “robots emulating animate beings”, and “social-cultural effects of social robots.” Further, discourse analysis revealed that social robots were mostly portrayed as non-agentic objects and inferior to human beings with metaphors and linguistic strategies. Downplaying serious scientific discussions about the nature of human and machine agency and emphasizing social robots’ nature as commodity, news reports on The New York Times reflect a dualist view in terms of ontology and human-centered utilitarianism, consistent with the mainstream American culture.

Author

• Bingjie LIU, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, Penn State University