Project title

Hybrid Families: towards an understanding of families in the age of AI

Research question

How can the social dynamics of families be described when interfacing with AI? Can this new description map AI-mediated changes in families’ social dynamics at both the behavioural and brain level?

Project description

Pets have long been a part of family life, living in homes and shaping social dynamics. Now, AI agents are beginning to do the same, gradually integrating into everyday family environments. But how should these new agents be defined? Are they mere objects or tools, or do they take on roles similar to siblings, pets, or even full-fledged family members? And do they bring families closer together or push them apart?

Despite the fundamental role families play in human life, research in psychology, social neuroscience, and human-AI interaction has largely focused on individuals. This project seeks to develop a new framework for understanding family dynamics in the age of AI, mapping AI-driven changes at both behavioral and neural levels.

The project aligns with all three Axes of the Theme Group Hybrid Agencies: Interacting with Biological and Artificial Systems. It explores the concept of an ‘agent’ within a family, distinguishing between biological and artificial family members (Axis 1), examines how AI integration evolves over time (Axis 2), and investigates family hierarchies, co-agency, and the boundaries of artificial agents within family systems (Axis 3). Beyond providing a formal description of AI-mediated family dynamics, this work can help inform the design of family-centered artificial agents.

Selected publications

  • Diana, F., Cañamero, L., Hortensius, R., & Kret, M. E. (2024). Merging sociality and robotics through an evolutionary perspective. Science Robotics, 9(92).
  • Leisten, L. M., Heyselaar, E., Bosse, T., & Hortensius, R. (2024). Children’s Reciprocity and Relationship Formation with a Robot Across Age. Technology, Mind and Behavior 5(2: Summer 2024)
  • Hortensius R. & Wiese, E. (2023). A neurocognitive view on the depiction of social robots. Commentary on target article by Clark and Fischer. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 46