Hi! My name is Carla Fancello, I studied Applied Psychology (BSc) in Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT), specialising in the tech path. My main areas of interest are Web Design, UX, HCI. I am particularly interested in new technologies such as AI, and how people interact with technology. I decided to explore this relationship in the context of AI for my major research project. In the future I hope to pursue a career in tech.
The term Artificial Intelligence describes a wide range of technologies that have been developed in recent decades. Currently, AI systems coexist with humans and in many ways, help, replace and enhance human capabilities. Humans have always shown to be intrigued by the idea of creating artificial life, as shown by popular culture, literature, and philosophy.
The project was driven by the interest in exploring the topic of AI systems and how individuals interact with them.
Amicability, Anthropomorphism, and Values and Ethics were chosen to conduct this investigation as they have been shown to play a significant role in the acceptance of new technologies, but their role in the perception and acceptance of AI has not been thoroughly investigated.
The present study aimed to contribute to the body of research by uncovering the dynamics underlying user perception of AI.
The results of the study highlight the complex relationship between the variables and attitudes towards AI, and emphasise the importance of increasing transparency in the development of AI systems.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer system to perform tasks using intellectual processes that are typically associated with humans such as the ability to reason, discover meaning, generalize, and learn and adapt their behaviour by analysing how the environment is affected by their previous actions. (European Commission, 2019; Copeland, 2023; Laskowski, 2023). A significant amount of research has been put towards its development, the study aimed to contribute to the body of research investigating the relationship between Attitudes towards AI and Amicability, Anthropomorphism, and Values and Ethics. The present carried multiple statistical tests (N=57) including multiple regression, Pearson’s correlation, factorial 3x3x3 ANOVA, and one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Overall, the study contributed to the literature on AI technologies and highlights the importance for further research while addressing participants’ concerns about the future of AI.