By: Iskander Smit
Part of State of Responsible Tech 2025, Generative Things
Smit, I. (2025). Ubiquitous immersive relations with generative things. In RIOT 2025, State of Responsible Tech – Generative Things (pp. 31-35). Stichting ThingsCon Amsterdam
https://thingscon.org/publications/riot-2025/riot-2025-ubiquitous-immersive-relations-with-generative-things/
Abstract (generated):
This essay explores the emergence of generative things—physical objects embedded with generative and agentic AI—as a new layer of ubiquitous intelligence within daily life. Drawing from earlier conceptualizations of “cities of things” and the evolution of AI interfaces from chatbots to autonomous agents, the author traces the transition from tool-based computing toward proactive, immersive, and ambient AI systems. The paper examines how generative things reshape human-machine relations across three nested layers: interaction, emotional engagement, and social collectivity. Smit argues that the increasing presence of intelligent, responsive, and goal-driven objects demands a shift in design thinking—from individual-centered optimization to community-oriented co-performance. With reference to active network theory and co-performance frameworks, the essay articulates the socio-technical challenges of balancing personal agency, emotional resonance, and collective governance in AI-augmented environments. Ultimately, the author calls for a design paradigm that prioritizes societal well-being and communal structures in the face of expanding agentic ecosystems, positioning ubiquitous AI not as mere convenience but as a civic infrastructure in need of intentional stewardship.