Abstract

The relationship with otherness primarily occurs through the face: a semiotic and cognitive device rich in meaning. Through the perception of anthropomorphic features, we can connect with the external world and, at the same time, grasp profound meanings. However, we only realize the symbolic value of the face when it appears different, altered, or even counterfeit. What happens, in fact, when a machinic entity wears a human face? What happens when artificial intelligence becomes capable of creating human faces that are so realistic that they evoke a sense of discomfort? The phenomenon of the Uncanny Valley first emerged in 1970, and since then, many studies have attempted to understand the motivations and conditions that lead to activating such a cognitive response. This paper seeks to understand the connections between this physical and perceptual discomfort and human processes of recognizing mutual subjectivity