Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Science, published by NCFR, seeks manuscripts on the topic of artificial intelligence for publication in a special issue.

Special Collection Call for Papers

Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Family Life: Issues, Applications, & Implications

Letter of Intent Due Date: December 15, 2023. Response to Letter of Intent: February 1, 2024
Manuscript Submission Due Date: June 1, 2024. Proposed Publication Date: January 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has redefined how people live and interact with technology in everyday life. While AI continues to evolve, its integration into everyday life has brought both benefits and challenges. For instance, ChatGPT, an AI-driven conversational agent, has become an unofficial consultant for users, students, and even professionals, progressively shaping individuals' thought processes, learning approaches, and behaviors, all the while raising concerns about the ethical use of such technology. Digital assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant have become virtual companions, with users becoming increasingly reliant on them - from personalized recommendations to seamless integration with smart homes. AI- driven technologies have revolutionized healthcare by enabling remote tracking of health through devices, detecting falls among seniors, providing real-time mental health support, and triggering alerts to caregivers or emergency services for swift responses in critical situations. While AI continues to surge forward, one area that seems to have received relatively little attention is the exploration of AI's impact on interpersonal relationships and family dynamics.

This multidisciplinary special issue of Family Relations seeks to build a platform for scientific activity around AI to leverage this emerging resource to strengthen families and family dynamics while also understanding potential detriments. The influence of AI and AI-facilitated technologies has the potential to shape families (regardless of form) and affect family dynamics in areas like communication, conflict resolution, privacy considerations, legal decisions, and so on. For this Call for Papers, we define AI as any technological innovation that simulates human intelligence. Other forms of technology where AI is NOT the central component, but merely used to connect people (e.g., social media) or disseminate information (e.g., websites, podcasts) will not be within the scope of this Call for Papers.

To accomplish our goal, this special issue seeks a variety of manuscripts and topics. The topics outlined below are simply a starting point. Authors are encouraged to email the editors with questions, to discuss possible topics, and so forth.

1. Report research outcomes detailing how families incorporate, use, or restrict AI in their daily routines, how AI has changed or influenced aspects of family dynamics, or how shifts in family form or dynamics shape the development or use of AI.
2. Critically analyze legal or ethical issues surrounding the use of AI in family environments and lives (e.g., consent of recording, use of recordings in legal proceedings, family use of AI for information, responsibility and accountability of AI companies regarding generated misinformation, etc.).
3. Advance the conceptual boundaries of existing theories and frameworks to accommodate the integration of AI into familial dynamics (e.g., as sources of advice and companionship ; as objects of attachment, love, trust, or commitment; as replacements to or augmentations of parents and parenting; rethinking traditional data structures as it relates to family units/demographics; how AI parses dynamic permissions; etc.).
4. Examine algorithmic biases inherent in the data used by AI and strategies for minimizing the impact of biases on families.
5. Illustrate how various types of AI (e.g., machine learning, neural network analysis) and associated technologies can be leveraged to develop new methods for understanding different aspects of family relationships and dynamics.
6. Feature ideas, strategies, and next steps for creating AI tools to strengthen family relationships or dynamics.

All types of manuscripts are welcome (e.g., long- and short-form empirical pieces, reviews, and conceptual essays). Please send a letter of intent of up to 500 words and a short author’s biography to the guest editors Brandon T. McDaniel, Jessica A. Pater, and Fayika Farhat Nova at [email protected] by December 15, 2023. Inquiries concerning applicability of
potential submissions may also be sent via email. Notification confirming the acceptance of the proposed manuscript idea and extending an invitation to submit a full manuscript for peer review will be sent by February 1, 2024. Complete article manuscripts in line with Family Relations authors’ guidelines are expected by June 1, 2024.