Artificial Intelligence and Gender: Examining Identities in The Alara X Sample

Abstract

This study is about gender-based changes that may occur with artificial intelligence technology. This study will examine the notions of cyborg, techno-humanism, techno-feminism, and posthumanism. My purpose here is to evaluate the discourse created by artificial intelligence-based virtual influencers, which are newly developing in Turkey, from posthuman and techno-feminist perspectives. Alara X, an AI-based virtual character broadcast on YouTube in Turkey, was selected as a purposive sample, and nine talk show programs were examined using Van Dijk’s critical discourse analysis. My analysis concludes by emphasizing the need for conscious efforts to ensure more inclusive and equitable gender representation in AI video content and advocating for widespread societal efforts to advance diversity and gender equality.