Author: Xia Yongjie, Chu Chunyan

Abstract: This study moves away from simply listing technological features and argues that smart guided systems are undergoing a fundamental shift in how they function—evolving from being "tools" to becoming "environments." By tracing a three-stage process driven by AI, we show how these systems have developed: starting as automated tools focused on efficient information delivery, then becoming interactive assistants that try to understand user intent, and finally emerging as immersive environments embedded in physical space. We further suggest that future progress should concentrate more on tackling ethical challenges and experiences of alienation brought by advanced intelligence, rather than only pushing for better technology. This paper provides a new way of understanding how smart guided systems are changing and raises important questions for the industry’s sustainable development.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Smart Guided Systems, Paradigm Evolution, Media Theory, Ethical Paradoxes

Article Info: Received: 18 Aug 2025; Received in revised form: 16 Sep 2025; Accepted: 23 Sep 2025; Available online: 28 Sep 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.105.40