Navigating Incommensurability Between Ethnomethodology, Conversation Analysis, and Artificial Intelligence

TL;DR

This paper explores the challenges and opportunities faced by ethnomethodology and conversation analysis when engaging with AI research, emphasizing conceptual issues, potential dangers, and avenues for collaboration.

Contribution

It highlights the disciplinary and conceptual incommensurability between EM/CA and AI, urging careful consideration of engagement strategies and potential risks.

Findings

Identifies conceptual gaps between EM/CA and AI fields.

Warns of potential misunderstandings and misapplications in AI collaborations.

Suggests opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue and integration.

Abstract

Like many research communities, ethnomethodologists and conversation analysts have begun to get caught up -- yet again -- in the pervasive spectacle of surging interests in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Inspired by discussions amongst a growing network of researchers in ethnomethodology (EM) and conversation analysis (CA) traditions who nurse such interests, I started thinking about what things EM and the more EM end of conversation analysis might be doing about, for, or even with, fields of AI research. So, this piece is about the disciplinary and conceptual questions that might be encountered, and -- in my view -- may need addressing for engagements with AI research and its affiliates. Although I'm mostly concerned with things to be aware of as well as outright dangers, later on we can think about some opportunities. And throughout I will keep using 'we' to talk about EM&CA researchers; but this really is for convenience only -- I don't wish to ventriloquise for our complex research communities. All of the following should be read as emanating from my particular research history, standpoint etc., and treated (hopefully) as an invitation for further discussion amongst EM and CA researchers turning to technology and AI specifically.