Artificial intelligence (AI) has seen rapid development over the past decade, leading
to its integration into various aspects of human life. The ability to integrate AI
systems hinges not solely on their technical efficacy but also on the perceptions
held by users or decision-makers. Previous researches indicate that many people harbor
concerns about AI, which can hinder the adoption of these technologies. This study
uses a pre-registered survey experiment embedded in an online survey in Hungary (
N = 2100) to assess trust in AI-based Automated Decision-Making (ADM). Participants
were presented with hypothetical decisions in four domains (medical diagnoses, hiring,
transportation, and financial investments). In a split-ballot design, participants
were randomly assigned to a control group with human involvement and an experimental
group where decision were supported by AI-based ADM. The main results show that decisions
supported by human intervention are perceived as more trustworthy than those made
by ADM (except for financial investment). However, our treatment heterogeneity analysis
indicates that these effects are not consistent across all segments of society. A
good understanding of AI, low privacy concerns, and an open personality can mitigate
the negative impact of AI assistance on trust.
