Technological mediation and human interaction with artificial intelligence chatbots

Abstract

This article examines human interaction with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots through the lenses of phenomenological and postphenomenological philosophy of technology. It addresses the growing incorporation of AI systems into relational and subjective domains of human life – such as mental health support, spirituality, and emotional companionship – and asks how these mediations affect the constitution of subjectivity and morality. The object of study is generative AI chatbots used in conversational settings. The study aims to analyze how such systems participate in the formation of the moral subject and to propose ethical guidelines for their responsible use. Methodologically, it develops a theoretical-philosophical analysis grounded in the work of Don Ihde and Peter-Paul Verbeek, supplemented by recent conceptual and empirical literature. The study reveals that AI technologies that simulate alterity and empathy are not neutral: they shape perception, decision-making, and behavior, with heightened implications for vulnerable users. The article recommends ontological transparency, protective safeguards, and the promotion of AI literacy, together with user practices of critical self-reflection. It concludes that ethical design and reflective engagement are essential to preserve the complexity of human experience, freedom, and dignity in a context of increasing integration between humans and machines.