Can people experience romantic love for artificial intelligence? An empirical study of intelligent assistants

Along with the development of artificial intelligence (AI), more IT applications based on AI are being created. A personal intelligent assistant is an AI application that provides information, education, consulting, or enter-tainment to users. Due to their high levels of cognitive and emotional capabilities, we assume that users can form humanlike relationships with intelligent assistants, therefore, we develop a research model based on the theory of love. Data were collected from users of intelligent assistants through a survey. The results indicate that users can develop intimacy and passion for an AI application similar to that experienced with human beings. These feelings are related to users' commitment, promoting the usage of an intelligent assistant, influenced by AI factors (performance efficacy and emotional capability), and moderated by human trust disposition.

Automated summary

According to a survey conducted on users of intelligent assistants, this study found that users can develop intimacy and passion for AI applications, similar to their relationships with human beings. These emotions are related to users' commitment, influenced by AI factors such as performance efficacy and emotional capability, and moderated by human trust disposition.