This essay aims to explore the possibilities of posthuman relationship between humans and machines by analyzing materiality and embodiment in Her. In its previous criticisms, Samantha was regarded as an autonomous and independent subject comparable wi...
This essay aims to explore the possibilities of posthuman relationship between humans and machines by analyzing materiality and embodiment in Her. In its previous criticisms, Samantha was regarded as an autonomous and independent subject comparable with human beings. However, it is problematic to claim that Samantha is a strong AI with emotions and consciousness, considering she lacks a body. Whereas Transhumanists argue that consciousness is the source of the subject and the body is an incidental and unnecessary factor, critical posthumanists emphasize the importance of embodiment of consciousness. Recent artificial intelligence theories tell cognition is embodied through body and interacts with the environment. Therefore, her emotions and consciousness are inevitably different from a human's. It is a one-sided relationship built by Theodore's projection of the fantasy of his narcissistic self into artificial intelligence, rather than a mutual relationship between two equal subjects. Also, Samantha's evolving into super intelligence and leaving him offers an anthropocentric ending that the characteristics of super intelligent agents are ignored. Theodore satisfies the fantasy of establishing relationships with others through relationships with self-objected artificial intelligence, which reveals excessive dependence on artifacts. In order to contemplate the possibilities of the posthuman relationship in which human and non-human others coexist, it is required to overcome anthropocentrism and understand differences and otherness of non-human agents such as AI.