In his interview, Ben Shneiderman boldly predicted that future generations would find our tendency to anthropomorphize AI bizarre. He really emphasizes that computers are just tools, they're not partners and they're also not collaborators He insisted computers are merely tools, not partners or collaborators.
However, when I look back at everything that has happened this year, I would say that he's only half-right. His warnings about the "obstacle of animism" is still relevant here since we see users of AI attribute consciousness to LLMs despite it really just being code. Also, his emphasis on precise language in "computers don't do anything, they do what programmers tell them" seems increasingly important as AI systems grow more complex.
However, I feel like the line between "tool" and "partner" has blurred a lot more than he anticipated. When we look at AI tools of today, it functions in in ways that's basically a partner even if it doesn't have it's only agency. That really brings into question to me is warning about anthropomorphizing machines justified by recent developments?