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Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Article . 2026
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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PoliteMachinesAndAnxiousHumans:EthicalInterfacesOfArtificialIntelligence InSatyajitRay's"Anukul

Authors: Prema, Rocha;

PoliteMachinesAndAnxiousHumans:EthicalInterfacesOfArtificialIntelligence InSatyajitRay's"Anukul

Abstract

Satyajit Ray’s short story “Anukul” (1976) represents one of the earliest textual engagementswithartificial intelligence fromtheGlobal South, anticipatingethical questionsthathavesincebecomecentraltocontemporarydebatesonhuman–machinerelations. Departing frommany dominant Western science fiction traditions that foregroundtechnological spectacle, rebellion,orcatastrophicfailure,Ray imaginesa courteous, efficient, andethically responsivemechanical assistantwhosepresencequietly unsettles established social, moral, and economic hierarchies. This paper arguesthat “Anukul”displacesanxietysurroundingartificial intelligencefromfearsof technological autonomy to themoral dispositionsand responsibilitiesof thehuman beingswhodesign,employ,andcoexistwithintelligentsystems.DrawingonLuciano Floridi’s framework of informationethics andN. KatherineHayles’ theorisationof posthumansubjectivity, thestudyexamineshowtheshort storyand its2017 film adaptation stage artificial intelligence as a site of ethical reflection rather than technologicalthreat,exposingcontradictionsinhumanbehaviour,particularlyinrelation tolabour,care,autonomy,andmoralauthority.Throughtextualandcinematicanalysis, thepaper demonstrateshowRay’sunderstatednarrativeanticipatescontemporaryconcernssurroundingAIcaregiving,automation,andaffectivelabour.Thefilm’sfatal conclusiondoesnotsignalmachinerebellionbut insteademergesfromanunreflective delegationofethical judgment, revealingtherisksinherent intranslatingcare, loyalty,andresponsibilityintocomputationalefficiency.Ultimately, “Anukul”suggeststhat the ethical consequencesof artificial intelligencedepend lesson thesophisticationof machine intelligence thanon themoral preparednessof thehumansocieties thatdeployit

Keywords

Human–Artificial Intelligence Interface; Ethical AI; Posthumanism; AutomationandLabour;GlobalSouthScienceFiction;SatyajitRay

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
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