Linguagem humano-maquínica : construções discursivas de gênero em enunciados de assistentes virtuais

Abstract

This research focuses on the intersection of language and technology to investigate discursive manifestations of gender present in statements made by virtual assistants. Based on notions of language dialogism (Bakhtin, [1952-53] 2002; Volóchinov, [1929] 2017), gender is investigated through post-humanist perspectives (Braidotti, 2015; Hawaray [1985] 2009; Hayles, 1999) in the context of contemporary capitalism and intense development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms (Deleuze, 1992; Han, 2022; Lazzarato, 2009, 2014; Marazzi [1996] 2009; Virno, 2013). The qualitative research is organized into three types of conversations (spontaneous, directed and demand-based) as strategies developed for data collection in virtual applications. As a result, gender was observed as a naturalized element in the discursive constructions of virtual assistants, expressed through alternating uses between the masculine and feminine, and the erasure of the feminine through the recurring choice of opting for the use of the generic masculine.