AI as an Interlocutor: Philosophy and the Search for New Human Frontiers

Abstract

The evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) from a passive tool into an active communicative agent poses a key anthropological question to philosophy: what constitutes the essence of the human when an algorithmic machine lays claim to the role of an interlocutor? The aim of this article is to analyse how the phenomenon of the AI companion transforms the classical philosophical categories of subjectivity and intersubjectivity, leading to a revision of the human frontiers. The methodology is based on a synthesis of a phenomenological description of the experience of dialogue with AI and its hermeneutic interpretation through the concept of the Other of the philosophy of E. Husserl and E. Levinas. As a result, a three-stage dynamic of this process is revealed: the dissolution of the instrumental illusion, the crisis of intersubjective criteria, and the formation of a performative boundary between human and machine. The key finding is the identification of the phenomenon of one-sided intersubjectivity – an asymmetrical dialogue that challenges traditional ethical models and allows for the explication of the content of the “authentically human” category. This dialogue acts as a mirror, revealing the human capacity to create meaning and bear moral responsibility. The scientific novelty lies in bridging the gap between abstract discussions on the essence of artificial intelligence and applied ethical issues. The practical value of the work is manifested in three aspects: it offers a framework for evaluating interface design, contributes to the development of legal norms for AI systems, and points to the need for updating humanities education. The significance of these findings for the Russian context is particularly emphasised, where the development of ethical standards for AI requires consideration of national cultural codes and the philosophical tradition of understanding dialogicality. The article pioneers a new research direction – the study of the human in the age of technology. Its task is to map the interaction between human and machine in the context of digital dialogue.