Kaleidoscopic contradictions: Ecological paradoxes in AI-powered interactive digital narrative

This study aims to analyze the ecological contradictions inherent in artificial intelligence-supported interactive digital narrative systems. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as post-digital aesthetics, media ecology, and critical environmental studies, the research analyzes case studies of interactive designs that question contradictory realities from perspectives including artificial intelligence and the environment, ecological media infrastructures, post-anthropocentric narratives, data criticism, and ethics. While praised for offering personalized and immersive narrative experiences, these works cause high environmental costs due to their reliance on unsustainable infrastructures. Although ecology-focused, they are mostly produced within technological systems that materially undermine this theme and are circulated through these systems. However, these material realities are often overshadowed by the visually impressive presentation of the narratives, leading to a new kind of ecological blindness. In this context, the contradictions of kaleidoscopic narratives in the creation of interactive art are questioned, and the importance of rethinking AI-supported digital narratives not only at the content level but also in terms of production and distribution infrastructures within an environmentally ethical context is discussed. The research offers suggestions on questions such as how to integrate design criticism and practice to reduce the energy costs of digital narrative and minimize its ecological impact, how to establish carbon-aware design methodologies and accountability frameworks, and how to incorporate environmental calculations into the production workflow, and it argues for the necessity of considering environmental costs as well as the need to move beyond a profit loss focused mindset as one of the most important problems of digital representation forms. Finally, calling for a new paradigm shift in the field of culture, the research emphasizes the importance of adopting eco-materialist paradigms, away from human-centeredness, for truly sustainable and ecologically sensitive digital narratives.