Proposing a Post-anthropocentric HAI through the Perception of Sentient Entities as Trans-objects

Abstract

This research explores an emerging phenomenon of perceived sentience in human-agent interaction (HAI) discourse where an anthropocentric bias is observed. We propose an alternative post-anthropocentric lens through developing a framework to help understand the perception of sentient entities as possible trans-objects. The term ’post-anthropocentric lens’ is coined to represent emerging future interactive objects where HAI may be imagined overlapping with post-human philosophy bridging the limitations of an anthropocentric design philosophy for HAI. Our proposal uses a research through design approach to explore possible future imaginings for object-object interaction among social agents and humans. We conclude that it is possible to define future emerging characteristics of autonomous agents through a decentralised post-anthropocentric approach towards HAI.