Work

Suspicious of AI ? Perceived autonomy and interdependence predict AI ‐related conspiracy beliefs

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: As artificial intelligence (AI) evolves, conspiracy theories have emerged that authorities will use AI to oppress humanity, or AI itself will. We propose that perceived high autonomy and low interdependence of AI increase AI-related conspiracy beliefs. Four studies (total N = 1897) have examined this line of reasoning. Study 1 (N = 300) supported the hypotheses in a correlational survey. Studies 2 (N = 400) and 3 (pre-registered; N = 400) manipulated the autonomy and interdependence of AI in experiments. Both studies found that higher autonomy and lower interdependence increased AI-related conspiracy beliefs, while perceived threat to society mediated these effects in most cases. Study 4 (pre-registered) replicated findings from Study 2 in the United States (N = 400) and China (N = 397) and found cultural differences in AI-related conspiracy beliefs. These findings illuminate how the perceived properties of AI contribute to AI-related conspiracy beliefs.

Source: British Journal of Social Psychology

DOI: 10.1111/bjso.12883

Authors: Qi Zhao, Jan‐Willem van Prooijen, Xinying Jiang, Giuliana Spadaro

Institutions: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Maastricht University, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, Beijing Normal University

Language: English

Topic: Misinformation and Its Impacts

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,970

Funder: China Scholarship Council