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Abstract

This study investigates how anticipating an artificial intelligence agent versus human information source moderates the risk information seeking and processing model. It focuses on a behavioral proxy of seeking intention—how long a participant waited for an online consultant whose identity was manipulated. In two samples (N₁ = 182 students and N₂ = 800 mturkers), the source identity consistently moderated the model in two ways: First, informational subjective norms encouraged seeking from humans but discouraged seeking from AI agents. Second, information insufficiency drove favoritism toward humans–when perceived information-gathering capacity was high. When the capacity was low, AI agents were favored.

Keywords

risk information seeking and processing machine agency artificial intelligence AI agent chatbot

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On the Motivations to Seek Information From Artificial Intelligence Agents Versus Humans: A Risk Information Seeking and Processing Perspective

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