Role metaphors positioned GenAI as helper, learning partner, and friend/foe, with a high proportion combining friend and foe¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · qualitative r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Participants anthropomorphised GenAI through helper, learning-partner and friend/foe roles, and a high proportion of these metaphors combined friend and foe (e.g. frenemy). → Carmen Vallis 2025

Evidence¶

Carmen Vallis 2025¶

Carmen Vallis, Stephanie Wilson, Alison Casey. (2025). Fear and Awe: Making Sense of Generative AI Through Metaphor. Journal of Interactive Media Education. https://doi.org/10.5334/jime.972

q2 · i? · qualitative · r2

Qualitative thematic analysis of workshop metaphors. Three themes emerged: GenAI as helper (research assistant, guide), as learning partner (study buddy, personal tutor), and as friend/foe, described as a "double-edged sword", a "friendly terminator" or a "frenemy".

"Overall, participants were cautious about the roles GenAI might play in education, acknowledging the 'relationship' as being different to a human one. A high proportion of metaphors in this category combined words suggesting that GenAI is both friend and foe."

Discussion¶

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