The term “apocryphal media” is often used to describe media technologies that do not work as intended but are nevertheless believed to be functional. Media artist Jamie Allen also argues that “all technologies contain at least some element of apocrypha, as they always comprise functions or benefits that exceed their limitations in the here and now,” and he emphasizes the importance of exposing the misrepresentations and misinterpretations of new media, which often seek to deceive users and earn their trust.
Simone Natale’s new book Deceitful Media makes a similar argument with regard to computer-mediated communication, as it shows how computers have often been perceived as magical devices that seem to be endowed with intelligence and personality. First, the book provides a comprehensive history of artificial intelligence (AI) and the development of chatbots like ELIZA, PARRY, and various entries in the Loebner Prize competition, which were all based on Alan Turing’s...