Title: Trust in Artificial Intelligence: What do we know and why is it important?

Abstract:

The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our society is becoming ubiquitous and undoubtedly holds much promise. However, AI has also been implicated in high-profile breaches of trust or ethical standards, and concerns have been raised over the use of AI in initiatives and technologies that could be inimical to society. Public trust and perceptions of AI trustworthiness underpin AI systems’ social license to operate, and a myriad of company, industry, governmental and intergovernmental reports have set out principles for ethical and trustworthy AI. To guide the responsible stewardship of AI into our society, a firm foundation of research on trust in AI to enable evidence-based policy and practice is required. However, to inform and guide future research, it is imperative to first take stock and understand what is already known about human trust in AI. As such, we undertake a review of 100 papers examining the relationship between trust and AI. We found fragmented, disjointed, and siloed literature with an empirical emphasis on experimentation and surveys relating to specific AI technologies. While findings suggest some convergence on the importance of explainability as a determinant of trust in AI technologies, there are still gaps between conceptual arguments and what has been examined empirically. We urge future research to take a more holistic approach and investigate how trust in different referents impacts attitudinal and behavioral intentions. Doing so will facilitate a more nuanced understanding of what it means to develop trustworthy AI.

Biography:

Steve Lockey is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Organisational Trust at the University of Queensland, Australia. He received his Ph.D. from Durham University in 2017. His research interests primarily relate to the development, repair, and measurement of trust in public and private sector settings. Currently, he is investigating the relationship between trust and Artificial Intelligence and the multilevel nature of organizational trust. Steve’s research has informed policy in the United Kingdom, and his scholarly work is published in Business Ethics Quarterly, Personel Review, and the International Journal of Police Science and Management.