Qualitative Study on Usage Practices of ChatGPT published

© M&K

Together with Anastasia Glawatzki, Paula Philine Jung has published the article “Tool, Assistant, or Partner? Usage Practices of ChatGPT and Anthropomorphizing Role Attributions”. The paper focuses on the phenomenon of anthropomorphization in the context of generative AI.

Based on a qualitative study, the authors examine how students of Communication Science and Computer Science use ChatGPT in their everyday lives and which roles they attribute to the AI. The findings reveal a distinction between conscious and unconscious role attributions: while most students consciously describe ChatGPT primarily as a tool or assistant, their actual usage practices indicate that the AI is also unconsciously treated as a partner.

The results contribute to the further development of the dual model of anthropomorphization and suggest that reflecting on contradictory perceptions of AI may support the development of AI literacy.

The article was published in Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, a peer-reviewed journal of the Leibniz Institute for Media Research Hans Bredow Institute.

Reference:

Glawatzki, A., & Jung, P. (2026). Werkzeug, Assistenz oder Partner*in? Nutzungspraktiken von ChatGPT und anthropomorphisierende Rollenzuschreibungen [Tool, Assistant, or Partner? Usage Practices of ChatGPT and Anthropomorphizing Role Attributions]. Medien & Kommunikationswissenschaft, 74(2), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.5771/1615-634X-2026-2-187