"Artificial Intelligence Is a Threat", a Presumed Agenda : An Evaluation of Media Narratives and Its Reception Among Young Adults of India

“Agenda Setting has been a primary functionality of media almost since its inception. Media through its narratives drives societal discourses in a way that no other tool does. From influencing the discussions in public sphere to choices at the supermarket, media very subtly creeps into our subconscious mind. It has a profound impact on our psyche and hence everyday lives. The reception of artificial intelligence and popularity of its tools in public has similarly been affected by media and its idea of facilitating technological adoption but whether it is facilitating or hindering the adoption of artificial intelligence stays unanswered. This study draws upon the existing literature and attempts to investigate whether media is trying to scare people off with artificial intelligence while ignoring the positive aspects of this latest technological development. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the agenda of media with reference to artificial intelligence discourses and study the reception of this agenda among young adults. The findings of this study are expected to contribute in existing theory of building media narratives and also aid in designing models for better reception of artificial intelligence in society. The methods to be employed for this study are critical discourse analysis where leading online news portals will be analysed and a survey where reception among young adults will be studied.”