Metaphors in Chinese online news: How is AI represented

In recent years, the emergence of generative AI models like ChatGPT has sparked renewed discussions about AI in online news articles. However, how AI is represented through metaphorical expressions in Chinese online news, and what socio-cultural factors shape these representations, remain underexamined. Thus, this study conducts a critical metaphor analysis of these articles to investigate these issues. For this study, a corpus, composed of 105 AI-themed online news articles from Mainland China, is established and analyzed through both quantitative and qualitative methods. Four primary metaphors are identified: AI IS HUMAN, AI IS JOURNEY, AI IS NATURAL FORCE, and AI IS REVOLUTION, comprising 367 metaphorical types and 1332 tokens. These four metaphors collectively portray a multifaceted image of AI: as an omnipotent assistant for humans, an entity with rapid growth and vast future potential, and a transformative force capable of reshaping societal structures. The analysis further reveals that these metaphorical choices are deeply embedded in socio-cultural contexts, including Chinese philosophical traditions and political ideologies. This study contributes to the extension and refinement of conceptual metaphor theory, while also fostering critical media literacy by demonstrating how metaphorical choices shape public perceptions of social issues.