Social Sciences in the Face of Artificial Intelligence Development – Selected Challenges and Analytical Opportunities

Aleksandra Skrzypiec

doi:10.21697/kmt.2026.66.01

Published: 2026-06-29

Vol. 66 No. 2 (2026)

Social Sciences in the Face of Artificial Intelligence Development – Selected Challenges and Analytical Opportunities

Aleksandra Skrzypiec

Kultura Media Teologia

Section: peer-reviewed article

https://doi.org/10.21697/kmt.2026.66.01

Abstract

This theoretical text provides a concise discussion of the challenges that the development of artificial intelligence poses to the social sciences. Beginning with the issues related to defining AI itself and differentiating between the various “intelligent algorithm” – driven tools available on the market, the author highlights key analytical areas of interest from the perspective of the social sciences, particularly in the fields of social communication, media studies, and sociology. The sociocultural changes resulting from technological advancements encompass, among others: (1) the domain of communication; (2) social roles and relationships; (3) power dynamics; and (4) ethical considerations. By addressing selected issues, the paper explores analytical possibilities for examining emerging research problems related to AI. Special attention is given to Human-Machine Communication, which is an interdisciplinary approach to studying human-machine interactions. The concluding reflections emphasize the importance of integrating insights from various branches of the social sciences to capture better the transformations brought about by modern technologies and their implications.

Keywords:

social sciences, artificial intelligence, human-machine communication, social robots, conversational agents

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Skrzypiec, Aleksandra. “Social Sciences in the Face of Artificial Intelligence Development – Selected Challenges and Analytical Opportunities”. Kultura Media Teologia, vol. 66, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 9-20, doi:10.21697/kmt.2026.66.01.

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Aleksandra Skrzypiec

a.skrzypiec@doctoral.uj.edu.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9731-9111

Affiliation:

Jagiellonian University Poland

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Aleksandra Skrzypiec - a PhD candidate at the Doctoral School in the Social Sciences of the Jagiellonian University, pursuing doctoral studies in the discipline of communication and media studies. Her research interests focus on the role of advanced technologies in communication, with particular emphasis on human–machine interaction and the relationships between humans and machines. She is the author of the article Planes of Interaction between Humans and Machines: An Outline from the Perspective of Communication and Media Studies, published in Człowiek i Społeczeństwo (2025), and the chapter A Paradigm Shift in Social Communication? Predictions on the Future Paths of Techno-Evolution, included in the edited volume Knowledge – Communication – Action. The New Communication Revolution (2023). Professionally, she is affiliated with the Marshal's Office of the Małopolska Region in Kraków.