Social Presence and Imagery Processing as Predictors of Chatbot Continuance Intention in Human-AI-Interaction

What factors drive consumers to use artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chatbots? The current study examined the associations among AI-powered chatbots’ anthropomorphism (human-likeness, animacy, and intelligence), social presence, imagery processing, psychological ownership, and continuance intention in the context of Human-AI-Interaction. Results from a path analysis using LISREL 8.54 show that consumers’ perceived human-likeness of AI-powered chatbots is a positive predictor of social presence and imagery processing. Imagery processing is a positive predictor of psychological ownership of the products (fashion industry) and services (tourism industry) promoted by the chatbots. Most importantly, social presence and imagery processing are positive predictors of AI-chatbot continuance intention. These empirical findings entail practical implications for AI-powered chatbot developers and managerial implications for commercial brands such that (1) increasing anthropomorphism of chatbots and inducing the sense of being co-present with the chatbots are important factors AI-chatbot designers and developers need to consider and (2) inducing vivid visualization of the products endorsed by the chatbots is an important variable marketers need to understand.