Abstract: Machines such as AI companions, equipped with enhanced cognitive capabilities, can now be considered as an equal communicative subject that is capable of social communication. To take account of this, we will unfold what benefits and costs are associated with engaging in social communication with a machine. This research-in-progress paper employs a qualitative research design based on social exchange theory to give theoretical insights. We expect to contribute with this research by revealing the costs and benefits of social communication in the human-machine communication context, developing an understanding of how the cost-benefit calculation differs within the context of social communication between humans and machines, and contributing to the upcoming research stream on AI companions.

Lay summary (by Claude 3 Sonnet): Artificial intelligence (AI) machines like AI companions are getting smarter and can now communicate with people in social ways, almost like another person. This research looks at the good things (benefits) and bad things (costs) of having social communication with an AI machine instead of a human. The researchers are using ideas from social exchange theory to understand the costs and benefits. They expect their research will help reveal what the costs and benefits are of socially communicating with AI, and how the calculation of costs and benefits is different when communicating with an AI versus a human. This can help with future research on AI companions that people might socially interact with.