The Impacts of AI Avatar Appearance and Disclosure on User Motivation

TL;DR

This study investigates how AI avatar appearance and disclosure influence user motivation, revealing that AI disclosure increases effort, while masculine avatars decrease motivation, based on a large-scale experiment with over 72,500 participants.

Contribution

It provides new empirical evidence on the effects of AI disclosure and gender appearance on user motivation in virtual interactions.

Findings

AI disclosure increases user effort.

Presence of avatars reduces play intensity.

Masculine AI appearance decreases motivation.

Abstract

This study examines the influence of perceived AI features on user motivation in virtual interactions. AI avatars, being disclosed as being an AI, or embodying specific genders, could be used in user-AI interactions. Leveraging insights from AI and avatar research, we explore how AI disclosure and gender affect user motivation. We conducted a game-based experiment involving over 72,500 participants who solved search problems alone or with an AI companion. Different groups experienced varying AI appearances and disclosures. We measured play intensity. Results revealed that the presence of another avatar led to less intense play compared to solo play. Disclosure of the avatar as AI heightened effort intensity compared to non-disclosed AI companions. Additionally, a masculine AI appearance reduced effort intensity.