PhD Vacancy @ Universiteit van Amsterdam

The Amsterdam School of Communication Research (ASCoR) is looking for a highly motivated PhD candidate for the project: UnderstandingRelationship Formation with Artificial Partners: Examination of Tools, Users and Outcomes.

Due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, we have been witnessing remarkable developments in the field of human-machine communication. From social robots to virtual agents, AI-driven technologies are increasingly being used for human interactions. Among these, a new category of digital tools are artificial partner applications. Distinct from other AI tools that are used for assistance or as intermediaries between humans, artificial partner applications represent a novel genre of AI powered tools that function as communication partners that aim to simulate companionship and form emotional connections with users.

This project, supervised by Dr. Hande Sungur (PI), Prof. Dr. Jochen Peter, and Dr. Jeroen Lemmens, will examine relationship formation with artificial partners by: (1) developing a comprehensive typology of artificial partner applications, (2) identifying demographic, social, and technological predictors of artificial partner use, (3) examining associations between predictors and outcomes of use, and (4) examining causal underlying processes that influence relationship formation. Through these four goals, the present research aims to enhance our understanding, specifically of artificial partners, and more broadly human-machine communication, while contributing to the discourse on AI’s evolving role in human society and communication.