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Short abstract:

Drawing on literature in cybernetics, human-computer interaction and human-autonomy teaming, the paper aims to re-examine historical concepts of human-machine cooperation since the 1960s and discuss them based on their socio-technical assumptions, role expectations, and autonomy concepts.

Long abstract:

Since the 1960s, numerous academic, industrial and military research projects have gone beyond the conceptualisation of computer based systems as tools for extending human capabilities or controlling mechanical operations and have programmatically conceived and designed them as cooperative partners that actively participate in work processes. Computers were envisioned to support human work by taking over certain clerical tasks or even being directly involved in decision-making processes together with human operators.

Although ideas conceived in the 1960s such as “man-computer symbiosis“ or “man-computer partnership“ (Licklider 1960; 1964) seemed futuristic at the time they however still have an impact on the development of agentic media today and resonate with contemporary research approaches like human-autonomy teaming (cf. Lyons et al. 2001). In light of recent developments in the fields of generative machine learning, artificial intelligence and interface design, as well as the proliferation of sensor technologies, many futuristic visions of the 1960s and 70s appear to be technically feasible today. In context of these developments the paper aims to re-examine the historical concepts of human-machine cooperation and evaluate them based on their socio-technical assumptions, role expectations, and autonomy concepts.

Drawing on relevant literature and debates in cybernetics, human-computer interaction and human-autonomy teaming, the paper traces the media historical development of agentic media as co-operative other(s) since the 1960s. In doing so the paper aims to unpack the developments underpinning today’s proliferation of synthetic agents and discusses how seemingly historical concepts can contribute to the understanding of contemporary technological developments.