Speaking with black boxes; about the rising of conversational interfaces

Abstract

In recent years we have observed how almost simultaneously different conversational interfaces have been pushed forward by various players of digital capitalism. These interfaces have been implemented in a variety of devices and artefacts for facilitating interaction between humans and computers. However, these interfaces pose new problems that are intimately associated with the business models that guide their technological development, through the so-called "platform economy" paradigm. In the text, a literature review of platforms that fuel digital capitalism is presented, paying special attention to the appearance of new conversational interfaces. In addition, special attention is paid to the CALO project, funded by DARPA, and commonly seen as a backbone of these innovations. The paper argues that the introduction of these conversational interfaces in online space, which threaten marginalized and less-empowered communities with regards to digital technologies.