Abstract

This manifesto proposes a critical framework for integrating artificial intelligence into communication centers while addressing ethical, environmental, and pedagogical concerns. Drawing from Donna Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto and critiques in the Refusing GenAI manifesto, the authors advocate hybrid models that position communication centers as dynamic spaces where human expertise and AI capabilities collaborate rather than compete. The article challenges the false binary of AI as either technological savior or threat, instead proposing AI as a collaborative tool that enhances rather than replaces human creativity and critical thinking.

The authors identify key challenges including AI’s environmental impact, labor exploitation, and perpetuation of bias, while outlining opportunities for cyborg communication models that merge human consultants, students, and AI systems. Three emergent roles for communication center staff are proposed: defining relationships with AI, implementing “humans-first” approaches that prioritize human ideation before AI assistance, and serving as AI alignment agents who ensure ethical AI usage. The manifesto emphasizes developing critical AI literacy through transparent guidelines, dialogic AI interaction (“more chat, less bot”), and strategic prompt engineering.

Addressing academic integrity concerns, the authors recommend moving beyond punitive measures toward proactive strategies that frame AI as a supplement to human creativity. The article concludes by identifying gaps in longitudinal research on AI’s impact on communication competency development and calls for evidence-based approaches to AI integration that align with institutional values and educational objectives.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, communication centers, cyborg pedagogy, AI literacy, prompt engineering, academic integrity, human-AI collaboration, generative AI, educational technology

How to Cite:

Schwartzman, R. & Cole, K., (2026) “Invited Article: A Modest Futurist Manifesto for Reimagining Communication Centers in a Critical AI Landscape”, Communication Center Journal 11(1). doi: https://doi.org//ccj.3146