THE REPRESENTATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKS OF TOHIR MALIK

Abstract

This article explores the conceptual portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) in the fantastic works of Uzbek writer Tohir Malik. While Malik wrote during a period when the term "AI" was not widely popularized in Central Asian literature, his fiction presents forward-looking philosophical reflections on machine consciousness, ethical dilemmas of technology, and the blurring of human–machine boundaries. By analyzing select stories, this study reveals how Malik used speculative elements to predict the rise of intelligent systems, emphasizing their potential impact on identity, morality, and society.