GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN HUMAN–AI COMMUNICATION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW AND FUTURE RESEARCH AGENDA
TL;DR
This study proposes a Four-Dimensional Integrative Conceptual Framework (Ontological-Agency, Psycho-Social, Epistemic-Democratic, and Governance-Ethical) and confirms five analytical propositions, including the "Generative Paradox" and the "Dual Attributional Mechanism" regarding anthropomorphism.
Abstract
The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has fundamentally reconfigured the landscape of human communication, shifting the paradigm from Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) to Human-Machine Communication (HMC), wherein machines are no longer merely passive channels but autonomous communicative agents. This research aims to map the conceptualizations, theoretical dynamics, and socio-ethical implications of GenAI in human-AI communication through a systematic literature review. Adhering to the PRISMA 2020 protocol, 75 high-reputation articles (77.3% SJR Q1) published between 2020 and 2026 were synthesized from an initial dataset of 460 articles. The findings identify eight thematic clusters: (1) anthropomorphism and trust (28%), (2) mental health (14.7%), (3) public governance (13.3%), (4) co-creation (10.7%), (5) LLM/ChatGPT (10.7%), (6) education (8%), (7) ethics and regulation (8%), and (8) public communication (6.7%). This study proposes a Four-Dimensional Integrative Conceptual Framework (Ontological-Agency, Psycho-Social, Epistemic-Democratic, and Governance-Ethical) and confirms five analytical propositions, including the "Generative Paradox" and the "Dual Attributional Mechanism" regarding anthropomorphism. The study recommends a future research agenda that encompasses longitudinal studies, the decolonization of Global South perspectives, the measurement of epistemic security, and investigations into long-term cognitive impacts.