The Digital Centaur as a Type of Technologically Augmented Human in the AI Era: Personal and Digital Predictors

TL;DR

This study explores factors influencing young people's preference for collaborating with AI to enhance their abilities, identifying personal and digital predictors of this 'digital centaur' mindset.

Contribution

The paper introduces the concept of the 'digital centaur' and identifies specific personal and digital predictors of its adoption among adolescents and young adults.

Findings

27.3% of respondents currently identify as digital centaurs, with 41.3% aspiring to adopt this identity within the next decade.

Interpersonal and intrapersonal emotional intelligence and mindfulness are personal predictors of digital centaur preference.

Digital competence, technophilia, and daily internet use are significant digital predictors of digital centaur preference.

Abstract

Industry 4.0 is steadily advancing a reality of deepening integration between humans and technology, a phenomenon aptly described by the metaphor of the “technologically augmented human”. This study identifies the digital and personal factors that predict a preference for the “digital centaur” strategy among adolescents and young adults. This strategy is defined as a model of human–AI collaboration designed to enhance personal capabilities. A sample of 1841 participants aged 14–39 completed measures assessing digital centaur preference and identification, emotional intelligence (EI), mindfulness, digital competence, technology attitudes, and AI usage, as well as AI-induced emotions and fears. The results indicate that 27.3% of respondents currently identify as digital centaurs, with an additional 41.3% aspiring to adopt this identity within the next decade. This aspiration was most prevalent among 18- to 23-year-olds. Hierarchical regression showed that interpersonal and intrapersonal EI and mindfulness are personal predictors of the digital centaur preference, while digital competence, technophilia, technopessimism (inversely), and daily internet use emerged as significant digital predictors. Notably, intrapersonal EI and mindfulness became non-significant when technology attitudes were included. Digital centaurs predominantly used AI functionally and reported positive emotions (curiosity, pleasure, trust, gratitude) but expressed concerns about human misuse of AI. These findings position the digital centaur as an adaptive and preadaptive strategy for the technologically augmented human. This has direct implications for education, highlighting the need to foster balanced human–AI collaboration.

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