Alienation and Liberation in Ludic Interaction: Reconstructing Human-Machine Intersubjectivity and Ethical Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Abstract

The "ludic" phenomenon in the age of artificial intelligence, characterized by its openness, generativity, and affective interaction, has reconfigured human-machine relationships, prompting a shift in research paradigms from a subject-object dichotomy towards an exploration of intersubjectivity. Digitally-mediated play formally echoes the "play-freedom" emancipatory narrative from Schiller to Marx. By simulating dialogue and affective recognition, it offers users experiences of creative expression and companionship. However, under the logic of digital capitalism, this interaction reveals a profound triple dimension of alienation: users' cognitive attention and affective energy are covertly exploited and datafied during their free time; the simulacrum of recognition provided by algorithms erodes the foundation of genuine social bonds and subjective construction; furthermore, entertaining interactions embed ideological discipline, achieving a soft incorporation of the individual. To navigate this duality, it is imperative to establish an ethical framework centered on transparency, symmetry, and exit rights. By cultivating critical digital literacy and promoting democratic participation in technology, the ultimate aim is to steer ludic practice back to its authentic purpose as a "realm of freedom" that fosters the comprehensive and free development of human beings.