Honest machines? A cross-disciplinary perspective on trustworthy technology for children

Author(s)
Stefanie Hoehl, Brigitte Krenn, Markus Vincze
Abstract

Humans increasingly interact with social robots and artificial intelligence (AI) powered digital assistants in their daily lives. These machines are usually designed to evoke attributions of social agency and trustworthiness in the human user. Growing research on human-machine-interactions (HMI) shows that young children are highly susceptible to design features suggesting human-like social agency and experience. Older children and adults, in contrast, are less likely to over attribute agency and experience to machines. At the same time, they tend to over-trust machines as informants more than younger children. Based on these findings, we argue that research directly comparing the effects of HMI design features on different age groups, including infants and young children is urgently needed. We call for evidence-based evaluation of HMI design and for consideration of the specific needs and susceptibilities of children when interacting with social robots and AI-based technology.

Organisation(s)
Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Department of Linguistics
External organisation(s)
Austrian Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence (OFAI), Technische Universität Wien
Journal
Frontiers in Developmental Psychology
Volume
2
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fdpys.2024.1308881
Publication date
2024
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501005 Developmental psychology
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Psychiatry and Mental health, Psychology (miscellaneous), Developmental and Educational Psychology, Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/210eb7e2-968a-49b4-9cf6-8899a733c41b