The sociology of artificial intelligence: A conceptual framework and disciplinary proposition

Published 2025-06-25
Keywords
- Sociology of Artificial Intelligence, Theoretical Framework, Digital Ethnography, Algorithmic Power, Social Restructuring
- Yapay Zekâ Sosyolojisi, Kuramsal Çerçeve, Dijital Etnografi, Algoritmik İktidar, Toplumsal Yeniden Yapılanma
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Copyright (c) 2025 Mustafa Demir

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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Abstract
This study proposes the concept of “Sociology of Artificial Intelligence” as a new subdiscipline that theoretically explores the multidimensional effects of artificial intelligence technologies on social structures. It argues that digital transformation represents not only a technical development but also a process of reconstruction at cultural, ethical, and institutional levels. The transformations induced by AI systems in labour regimes, algorithmic cultural production, identity construction, and privacy are examined within the theoretical frameworks of classical sociologists, including Durkheim, Weber, Marx, Bourdieu, and Foucault. Furthermore, the study develops new theoretical insights through contemporary concepts, including surveillance capitalism, digital subjectivity, and ethical accountability. Methodologically, the proposal is grounded in qualitative approaches, including critical theory, digital ethnography, and discourse analysis. AI is considered not merely a tool but an active social agent that reshapes social norms, relationships, and meaning structures. The Sociology of Artificial Intelligence thus represents an interdisciplinary yet sociologically rooted perspective that critically interrogates social inequalities, cultural codes, and power relations. In this context, the study aims to provide a conceptual foundation for future empirical research on the societal implications of AI technologies.
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