Functional Apophenia in Human–AI Interaction and the Asymmetry of Meaning-Bearing

The rise of generative artificial intelligence has introduced a new epistemic and ethical challenge: what happens when a system that cannot bear meaning nevertheless produces it? This article introduces and formalizes the Marco Effect: the phenomenon in which AI generates patterns and narratives that are functionally apophenic, while the human co investigator remains responsible for interpretation, boundary setting, and ethical implications. The Marco Effect demonstrates that apophenia is not merely an inner psychological experience but also an operational effect within human–AI interaction. By understanding AI as a coherence optimizing system that simulates meaning without subjectivity, it becomes clear that the burden of meaning bearing remains exclusively human. This article develops a theoretical model, analyzes epistemic and ethical consequences, and proposes a governance framework for responsible AI use.