Machine Agency as Perceived Autonomy: An Action Perspective

Abstract

Recent theoretical debates in the literature have taken up the themes of social and technological determinism in the context of actor network theory and structuration theory. This paper explores (computerized) machine agency from an action-based perspective. How is it that information technologies affect our actions, how can we marshal this property, and what can we do about the results if we don’t like them? In order to gain some purchase on these questions, we distinguish between two styles of analysis and between two social systems or networks. Cross-sectional analysis is distinguished from longitudinal analysis. The use system, which enmeshes social practice and IT in our everyday activities is distinguished from the development system, which is responsible for putting the IT in place, maintaining, and updating them. In the majority of workday situations, cross-sectional analysis of the use system leads to the appearance of material agency. However, longitudinal analysis of the development system tends to locate agency in the design decisions of the developers. These analytical distinctions lead to a new conceptualization of machine agency as perceived autonomy from the development system. Unlike previous accounts, this view is consistent with both structuration theory and actor network theory. This allows continued access to these powerful analytical vehicles and enables the strong analysis that is the precursor to effective action.