On the Current Moment in AI: Introduction to Special Issue on Effects of Artificial Intelligence Tools in Technical Communication Pedagogy, Practice, and Research, Part 1

Abstract

Technical advances in and social responses to artificial intelligence (AI) have moved quickly over the past two years. The rapid popularization of AI tools such as ChatGPT and Midjourney has resulted in a wide range of responses from the public and academy (Davis & Tack, 2023). Concerns range from dire proclamations of large-scale labor replacement to sunny proclamations of greater productivity for workers solving the world's problems. Between these two poles lie a wide variety of opinions debating the merits and detractions of the new tools available to professionals and the public (Duin & Pedersen, 2023).