When Trust in AI Mediates: AI News Use, Public Discussion, and Civic Participation

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Summer 2024

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Source Publication

International Journal of Public Opinion and Research

Source ISSN

1471

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.1093/ijpor/edae019

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI), since its marked proliferation in the mid-2010s, has significantly penetrated various sectors, becoming a transformative force that necessitates ongoing refinement of communication strategies and political dynamics by stakeholders. Drawing on the Orientation-Stimulus-Reasoning-Orientation-Response (O-S-R-O-R) model, this study delves into the role of AI news consumption in participatory democracy. Using data from a nationwide survey (N = 1,252), the study assesses a mediation model that proposes a multilayered process through which AI news consumption facilitates civic participation. The findings reveal that AI news consumption across different media platforms is positively linked with civic participation, facilitated by both online and offline AI discussions. This relationship is further mediated by trust in AI news and trust in AI actors. Further theoretical and practical implications are also discussed.

Comments

International Journal of Public Opinion and Research, Vol. 36, No. 2 (Summer, 2024). DOI.

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