Matt Vetter (Department of Language, Literature, and Writing), with co-authors Brent Lucia and Varshil Patel, recently published an article titled “The Dystopian Imaginaries of ChatGPT: A Designed Cycle of Fear” in Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.
The article, which offers a critical analysis of dystopian narratives that emerged as a response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, reports on a study of 115 news articles published in the five months following its release in November 2022.
The study maps the most common anxieties about ChatGPT in US-based journalistic media, categorizing fears around non-human texts, bad actors and systemic biases, rapid technological change, large language models, and threats to writing education. The article also makes a theoretical contribution as it introduces the concept of “fear cycles,” defined as recurring patterns of dystopian projections in response to emerging technologies, the identification of which can help understand and navigate societal responses to future technological advancements. The research demonstrates how dystopian imaginaries surrounding ChatGPT are rhetorically constructed in popular and journalistic discourse, revealing how certain fears are amplified and circulated, shaping public perception. Furthermore, the article contrasts dystopian narratives in journalism with the utopian visions often promoted by Big Tech, highlighting the discursive struggles surrounding the production of technology.
The findings suggest that exaggerated or sensationalized reporting can lead to misunderstandings about AI’s threats and benefits, potentially influencing public opinion, regulation, and the effective use of AI tools. Recognizing this, the authors call for more nuanced and critical reporting on AI. Ultimately, the article contributes to a broader understanding of how societies process and conceptualize their relationship with emerging technologies by examining the dynamics of dystopian imaginaries and fear cycles. This understanding can be valuable for researchers, policymakers, and the public in engaging with future technological advancements in a more informed way.
Abstract
The advent of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022 catalyzed a wave of excitement and apprehension, but especially fear. This article examines the dystopian narratives that emerged after ChatGPT’s release date. Through a critical analysis of media responses, we uncover how dystopian imaginaries discussing ChatGPT become rhetorically constructed in popular, journalistic discourse. The article locates prevalent anxieties surrounding ChatGPT’s unprecedented text-generation capabilities and identifies recurrent fears regarding academic integrity, the proliferation of misinformation, ethical dilemmas in human-AI interaction, and the perpetuation of social biases. Moreover, the article introduces the concept of “fear cycles”—recurring patterns of dystopian projections in response to emerging technologies. By documenting and dissecting these fear cycles, we offer insights into the underlying rhetorical features that drive societal reactions to technological advancements. The research ultimately contributes to a nuanced understanding of how ChatGPT dystopian imaginaries develop particular futures, while grounding the present in predictable anxieties related to technological innovation.
Access the article online at Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies.