Problem
Research questions and friction points this paper is trying to address.
AI dependence
young adults
chatbots
psychological impact
self-determination theory
"Always Want to Use it for Everything": Understanding Young Adults' Perceptions of AI Dependence
🤖 AI Summary
This study investigates the phenomenon of dependency on general-purpose AI chatbots among young adults aged 18 to 25 and its potential adverse effects on personal competence and psychological development. Drawing on online survey data and employing thematic analysis grounded in Self-Determination Theory, the research identifies three key drivers of dependency: sustained usage, pursuit of efficiency, and task delegation. It presents the first systematic framework from a developmental psychology perspective that delineates the constitutive elements of AI dependency and its psychological consequences, revealing significant associations with diminished practical competencies and reduced self-efficacy. These findings offer theoretical grounding and practical insights for designing AI interaction paradigms that foster healthy psychological development.
📝 Abstract
The growing integration of general-purpose AI chatbots into people's daily lives has raised concerns about the potential for unhealthy dependence, particularly among young adults. As a first step toward understanding and characterizing AI chatbot dependence from the perspective of young adults, we collected testimonials from AI chatbot users aged 18 to 25 through an online questionnaire to capture their thoughts and experiences with this phenomenon. From participant responses, we identified three contributing factors of AI dependence: chronic use, efficiency, and delegation. The combination of these in a person's interaction behavior was considered to indicate AI dependence. Participants also observed feelings of atrophy in abilities from AI dependence, leading to psychological impacts such as feelings of inadequacy. Interpreting these findings through the lens of self-determination theory reveals how AI chatbot dependence can impact young adults' personal and social development. We argue that preventing lasting harm to young adults' development is paramount, and provide implications for rethinking AI chatbot dependence grounded in this understanding.
Innovation
Methods, ideas, or system contributions that make the work stand out.
AI dependence
young adults
self-determination theory
chatbot interaction
behavioral factors
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2024-07-22arXiv.orgCitations: 1
