Call for Papers:

“How Does Artificial Intelligence Change Communication?”
Special Issue of Journal of Language and Social Psychology
https://journals.sagepub.com/page/jls/callforpapers

Editors:
Dr. Andrea L. Guzman (Northern Illinois University)
Dr. Bingjie Liu (Ohio State University)
Dr. Renwen Zhang (National University of Singapore)

Deadline for submission of abstracts: August 1, 2025

GOALS AND FOCI

How we study and understand the social psychology of language is rapidly changing with the growth of AI. This special issue of the JLSP focuses on scholarship that addresses the conceptual and theoretical questions regarding how artificial intelligence (AI) changes communication practices and research. We invite submissions from scholars in the fields of communication, psychology, linguistics, sociology, education, information science, health, computational social science, and others. We are especially interested in conceptual and theoretical contributions as well as empirical work that push the boundaries of our thinking on the impact of AI on communication mechanisms at fundamental levels. The goal is to provide thought-provoking scholarship that can further progress the study of AI’s implications for language and social psychology in the tradition of other special issues that have guided research on communication into a new era of inquiry (e.g., Journal of Communication – The Disciplinary Status of Communication Research, 1993; New Media & Society – Internet Studies: Perspectives on a Rapidly Developing Field, 2013; Computers in Human Behavior – Digital Interlocutors: Theory and Practice of Interactions Between Human and Machines, 2019; Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication – What is Computer-Mediated Communication?, 2020).

Artificial intelligence is defined as machines that can simulate human intelligence and perform tasks that would require human intelligence (e.g., Turing, 1950). With the rapid development of AI, such as natural language processing, machine learning, affective computing, and, more recently, large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, AI-based technologies are increasingly mediating and affecting language and communication in innumerable ways. Examples include, but are not limited to, “communicative AI” (Guzman & Lewis, 2020; Hepp et al., 2023) conversing with humans (e.g., chatbots, robots, smart speakers, AI companions) in human-machine communication (Fortunati & Edwards, 2020; Guzman, 2018), applications that enable AI-mediated communication (Hancock et al., 2020) by modifying human communication (e.g., Grammarly) or even communicating on behalf of humans (e.g., smart reply), and algorithms that make decisions on communication flows and exposure to messages (e.g., algorithms that moderate the content in news and social media platforms) and that connect communicators (e.g., matching algorithms in online dating platforms).

As a result, AI has brought changes to many communication practices and has inspired numerous empirical studies on the uses and effects of AI. Nevertheless, what AI-induced changes are meaningful and fundamental to the understanding of communication and to theory building about the social psychology of language? Communication is traditionally conceived as a uniquely human activity (Peters, 2012; Schramm, 1973), and most theories are developed based on the assumption that the participants of communication are only human agents. The involvement of AI thus pushes us to rethink the nature as well as the future of communication and human connection (Gunkel, 2012; Zhao, 2006). In other words, AI raises new questions regarding how we create meaning with, make sense of, and relate to each other. We encourage researchers, including both junior and established scholars, to join us in contemplating how existing concepts and theories are challenged, expanded, revived, and nullified, and what new concepts and theoretical perspectives are inspired, invoked, or necessitated by AI in the domain of language and social psychology and beyond.

SCOPE

We welcome submissions focusing on any type(s) of AI-based technologies, including narrow AI, machine learning, and GenAI, and the full range of applications (e.g., chatbots, virtual agents, algorithms), and any communication context or across contexts (e.g., intercultural, interpersonal, mass, political, organizational communication), communication processes (e.g., language use and effects, message production and interpretation, information access and processing, dynamics in dyads or small groups), from all research traditions and approaches. We also are interested in conceptual pieces that consider the larger philosophical and historical implications of AI for the study of communication and language.

Artificial Intelligence notoriously is an area of study that spans many different disciplines and fields, each with different definitions of what constitutes AI, as well as goals in studying AI. Furthermore, there are many different types of AI in use and development (e.g., narrow AI, generative AI) and applications (e.g., chatbots, programs for developing text, audio, and/or visual content, data processing, curation, information gathering, social listening, etc). For this special issue, we are open to the varying definitions and forms of AI.

The potential topics for submissions are wide-ranging, and authors are welcome to reach out to the special issue editors with questions regarding relevant topics. Some possible areas of inquiry include:

• How does AI change/challenge/redefine the nature of communication and its study?
• How does AI alter the psychological processes and outcomes of language use and effects?
• How does AI moderate the dynamics of communication, such as in human-machine communication and AI-mediated communication?
• What implications emerge from AI when considering information credibility?
• How does AI challenge or expand the key concepts or theories regarding communication? For example, how do we need to adapt existing theories, the meaning they create, and the effects and implications of social interaction (for self, organizations, society, etc.) to account for AI?
• In what ways might AI promote or hinder diversity, inclusivity, and fairness in language and communication practices?
• In what ways is AI unique as a communicator and mediator compared to previous technologies and human communicators?
• What new insights can AI provide regarding previous forms of communication, such as human-human communication and CMC, that may have gone unnoticed?
• How might AI induce a paradigm shift in the social psychology of language and related areas of study germane to communication?

TIMELINE:

Submissions of abstracts will be accepted until August 1, 2025. Decisions on the abstracts will be made and sent to the authors in September 2025. Authors invited to submit a full manuscript should submit their manuscripts by January 9, 2026.

• August 1, 2025: Abstract due
• September 2025: Decisions on the abstract sent back to authors
• January 9, 2026: Full paper submission due, followed by peer review
• September 2026: Special issue to be published

SUBMISSION FORMAT

Abstract:

We welcome extended abstracts (up to 500 words, excluding references) for both theoretical and empirical papers that examine how AI is reshaping communication in various contexts. The abstract should clearly state the focus of the manuscript and its contribution related to the topic of the special issue and explain the scholarly format it will take (e.g., theoretical, empirical). Be specific regarding the objectives and/or questions the manuscript will address and, if applicable, articulate pertinent details regarding the approach and method. Abstracts should be submitted via Google Form: forms.gle/XbPdLwpHiffr5YvZ6.

Full Manuscript:

Papers in the special issue will be consistent with the JLSP’s existing guidelines and requirements for papers.

CONTACT

Questions about submissions to this special issue can be addressed to Dr. Andrea Guzman (alguzman@niu.edu), Dr. Bingjie Liu (liu.11321@osu.edu), and Dr. Renwen Zhang (r.zhang@nus.edu.sg).

Andrea L Guzman, PhD
Associate Professor
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL
USA