PhD Special Call: Tool or companion: exploring longitudinal use of conversational AI

The PhD project will be part of Tools or Companions? Investigating the shifting roles of artificial agents in human lives. Conversational AI technologies such as ChatGPT, Replika, or Character.AI are increasingly integrated into daily life, where they are sometimes experienced as functional assistants and at other times as relational companions.

This raises important questions about the dynamics of human–AI relationships: under what circumstances do people perceive these systems as tools, companions, or something in between—and how do such perceptions evolve over time?

The larger research project consists of three workflows:
i) workflow 1 investigates experimental use of conversational AI in controlled lab settings,
ii) workflow 2 (this PhD project) studies real-world, longitudinal use of conversational AI “in the wild,”
Iii) workflow 3 analyses broader societal discourses and ethical implications of grief companions.

Together, these workflows will provide a multilevel understanding of how conversational AI is influencing psychological wellbeing,  social interaction, and cultural discourse.

The PhD student will be expected to take part in joint activities and collaborative efforts connected with the overall project.

The PhD student will contribute to workflow 2 of the larger research project (see above). WF2 explores how everyday users engage with AI over time and under what circumstances perceptions shift between tool and companion, potentially influenced by factors such as sociomorphing, self-disclosure, distress, and context of use.

Overall the research question this workflow seek to answer is: which user characteristics predict the intensity, valence, and role (tool or companion) of everyday chatbot interactions over time? Within the aims of WF2, the PhD student is expected to propose and refine their own approach.

The PhD project is to be carried out as part of the research project. The PhD student´s role in the research questions listed above will depend on the chosen candidate and his / her own PhD project description related to the topic of the overall project. Hence, you must write a project description on how you would carry out the research within the frames of the overall project.

During the project you will complete a PhD education as described in the rules and regulations for the PhD programme

Your Qualifications:

• We are looking for a candidate with a Master’s degree in psychology (must be completed by PhD start)   
• Due to engagement with participants and stakeholders, the PhD student must be fluent in Danish.
• Programming skills (e.g., Python) will be considered a strong advantage, particularly for handling and analysing longitudinal digital data.
• Experience working in interdisciplinary research environments is an asset.
• Demonstrated interest in AI.   

The PhD candidate will become part of an interdisciplinary and collaborative group, bringing together expertise from psychology, philosophy, cognitive science, and human–robot interaction. The candidates will join a research environment with opportunities to collaborate across disciplines.

Formal requirements

You can read more about how to apply in the application guide and find the rules and regulations of the PhD education here.

The following criteria are decisive in the assessment of the candidates:

• the applicant’s academic qualifications (assessed on the basis of the qualifying degree)
• the quality and relevance of the project proposal
• the applicant’s level of academic aptitude and assessed ability to complete the project within the framework of the PhD programme

You can read more about the assessment procedure and committees appointed by the dean here.

Applicants are very much encouraged to supply documentation as to how they rank compared to their class (both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees). This may for example be in the form of a letter from your University stating either how you rank as an individual student compared to other students the year you graduated ("ranks as no. 6 out of 111" or "ranks as among the best 8 percent") or if that is not possible, general information from your University as to how grades were distributed in the year of your graduation, will be appreciated.

Please note that Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to evaluate the applications on the basis of the documentation received before deadline, and you will not necessarily be asked for further documentation. Furthermore, Aarhus BSS Graduate School reserves the right to reject application that do not comply with the limitations as stated in the application guide (see link above).

Terms of enrolment

PhD students at Aarhus BSS Graduate School are always enrolled. The enrolment happens in accordance with the Ministerial PhD Order no. 1039 of August 27, 2013 and the terms stated in the Rules and Regulations for the PhD programmes at Aarhus BSS Graduate School. Both can be found here.
If relevant: If you are enrolled in part A of the 4- or 5-year schemes you will receive a SU PhD Scholarship according to the rules set out in the State Educational Grant and Loan Scheme (SU, in Danish). In addition, you will be offered to undertake paid work of up to 280 hours during your part A enrolment period.

Terms of employment

If you are offered employment at Aarhus University in connection with enrolment in the 3-year scheme, the appointment is made in accordance with the Memorandum on Job Structure for Academic Staff at Danish Universities as well as the circular on the Collective Agreement for Academics Employed by the State (in Danish). The job content and qualification requirements are described in further detail in the Ministerial Order on the Appointment of Academic Staff at Universities.

You can read more about the 3-, 4- and 5-year scheme here.

Aarhus University

Aarhus University is an academically diverse and research-intensive university with a strong commitment to high-quality research and education and the development of society nationally and globally. The university offers an inspiring research and teaching environment to its 38,000 students (FTEs) and 8,300 employees, and has an annual revenues of EUR 935 million. Learn more at www.international.au.dk/