The DOI matches its Crossref record; 104 of the 104 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A Scholarly Definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI): Advancing AI as a Conceptual Framework in Communication Research
Abstract
Research on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in communication research is gaining broader interest. This interdisciplinary interest has yet to be supported by a systematic scholarly definition and by a holistic theoretical framework in communication research. First, combining prior theoretical efforts from diverse disciplines in the social sciences, especially journalism and communication, this study introduces a wide-ranging working AI scholarly definition in communication research as the tangible real-world capability of non-human machines or artificial entities to perform, task solve, communicate, interact, and act logically as it occurs with biological humans. We also propose its theoretical operationalization based on two dimensions: level of performance and level of autonomy, advancing an elementary conceptual framework drawing on AI’s levels of potential actions or performance the AI may accomplish, including 1) performing tasks, 2) taking decisions, and 3) making predictions; as well as AI’s level of autonomy, or the agency results contingent on the degrees of human input, interaction, or supervision involved.
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“Similarly, MindOS Memory Twin 24 lets us export our memories and thoughts into an ' AI powered companion ' , so you can ' look back on any moment or even collaborate with your Twin using their unique memory of you ' .”
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Hardcastle, K., Larsen, L. V., & Brown, D. M. (2025) · Journal of Advertising · doi:10.1080/00913367.2025.2460985 · Cited by 169
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Metadata
- Authors
- Gil de Zúñiga, H., Goyanes, M., & Durotoye, T.
- Affiliations
- Democracy Research Unit, Political Science, College of Law & Public Administration, University of Salamanca, Salamanca
- Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (ES)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Venue
- Political Communication
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2023-12-06
- Volume
- 41
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 317-334
- ISSN
- 1058-4609 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-7675
- OpenAlex
- W4389380302
- Cited by
- 198
- References
- 102
- Citations by year
- 2026: 82 · 2025: 77 · 2024: 28 · 2023: 11
- FWCI
- 18.59
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Political Communication (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Spanish National Research Agency’s Program for the Generation of Knowledge and the Scientific and Technological Strengthening Research + Development
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Artificial Intelligence Applications
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Ethics and Social Impacts of AI
- Social Sciences › Communication › News Media Framing and Political Communication
- Keywords
- artificial intelligence, definition of artificial intelligence, conceptual framework, AI autonomy, AI agency, task performance, decision-making, prediction, human-AI interaction, journalism, communication research
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