Since the release of GPT-3 and ChatGPT, large language models (LLMs) have become a prominent topic of international public and scientific debate. This paper investigates the potential social status of artificial systems in human-machine interactions. How social are human interactions with LLMs? To what extent are we acting jointly with a collaborator when chatting with machines? Current or future AI technology might contribute to the emergence of phenomena that can be classified neither as mere tool-use nor as proper social interactions but rather constitute something in between. We explore conceptual frameworks that can characterize such borderline social phenomena. We discuss the pros and cons of ascribing some form of quasi-social agency to LLMs and the possibility that future LLMs might be junior participants in asymmetric joint actions.

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