“Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing

<p dir="ltr">Artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual influencers are now frequently used by brands in various categories to engage customers. However, little is known about who the followers of these AI-based virtual influencers are and more importantly, what drives the followers...

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Main Author: S. Venus Jin (14779495) (author)
Other Authors: Vijay Viswanathan (314324) (author)
Published: 2024
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author S. Venus Jin (14779495)
author2 Vijay Viswanathan (314324)
author2_role author
author_facet S. Venus Jin (14779495)
Vijay Viswanathan (314324)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv S. Venus Jin (14779495)
Vijay Viswanathan (314324)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2024-01-18T09:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/_Threatened_and_empty_selves_following_AI-based_virtual_influencers_comparison_between_followers_and_non-followers_of_virtual_influencers_in_AI-driven_digital_marketing/29445605
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Information and computing sciences
Artificial intelligence
Human-centred computing
Psychology
Social and personality psychology
Virtual influencers
Feeling artificial intelligence (AI)
Need to belong Empty self
Threats to human identities
Human–AI interaction (HAII)
Human-Robot-Interaction (HRI)
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <p dir="ltr">Artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual influencers are now frequently used by brands in various categories to engage customers. However, little is known about who the followers of these AI-based virtual influencers are and more importantly, what drives the followers to use AI-based virtual influencers. The results from a survey support the notion that compensatory mechanisms and the need to belong play important roles in affecting usage intentions of AI-based virtual influencers. Specifically, the study finds that usage intentions are mediated and moderated by compensatory mechanisms that arise from the perception of AI-based virtual influencers’ functional benefits and existential threats to human identity. Furthermore, the need for belonging moderates the effects of the following status (following versus non-following) on perceived personalization benefits of AI-based virtual influencers and behavioral intentions to use AI-based virtual influencers. This study provides important implications for academia delving into the social, cultural, and philosophical implications of AI-based virtual influencers for human societies as well as for brands that plan to use AI-based virtual influencers and gain a better understanding of their customers in AI-driven digital marketing.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: AI & SOCIETY<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9</a></p>
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identifier_str_mv 10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9
network_acronym_str Manara2
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oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/29445605
publishDate 2024
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spelling “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketingS. Venus Jin (14779495)Vijay Viswanathan (314324)Information and computing sciencesArtificial intelligenceHuman-centred computingPsychologySocial and personality psychologyVirtual influencersFeeling artificial intelligence (AI)Need to belong Empty selfThreats to human identitiesHuman–AI interaction (HAII)Human-Robot-Interaction (HRI)<p dir="ltr">Artificial intelligence (AI)-based virtual influencers are now frequently used by brands in various categories to engage customers. However, little is known about who the followers of these AI-based virtual influencers are and more importantly, what drives the followers to use AI-based virtual influencers. The results from a survey support the notion that compensatory mechanisms and the need to belong play important roles in affecting usage intentions of AI-based virtual influencers. Specifically, the study finds that usage intentions are mediated and moderated by compensatory mechanisms that arise from the perception of AI-based virtual influencers’ functional benefits and existential threats to human identity. Furthermore, the need for belonging moderates the effects of the following status (following versus non-following) on perceived personalization benefits of AI-based virtual influencers and behavioral intentions to use AI-based virtual influencers. This study provides important implications for academia delving into the social, cultural, and philosophical implications of AI-based virtual influencers for human societies as well as for brands that plan to use AI-based virtual influencers and gain a better understanding of their customers in AI-driven digital marketing.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: AI & SOCIETY<br>License: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0" target="_blank">https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9</a></p>2024-01-18T09:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1007/s00146-023-01832-9https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/_Threatened_and_empty_selves_following_AI-based_virtual_influencers_comparison_between_followers_and_non-followers_of_virtual_influencers_in_AI-driven_digital_marketing/29445605CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/294456052024-01-18T09:00:00Z
spellingShingle “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
S. Venus Jin (14779495)
Information and computing sciences
Artificial intelligence
Human-centred computing
Psychology
Social and personality psychology
Virtual influencers
Feeling artificial intelligence (AI)
Need to belong Empty self
Threats to human identities
Human–AI interaction (HAII)
Human-Robot-Interaction (HRI)
status_str publishedVersion
title “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
title_full “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
title_fullStr “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
title_full_unstemmed “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
title_short “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
title_sort “Threatened and empty selves following AI-based virtual influencers”: comparison between followers and non-followers of virtual influencers in AI-driven digital marketing
topic Information and computing sciences
Artificial intelligence
Human-centred computing
Psychology
Social and personality psychology
Virtual influencers
Feeling artificial intelligence (AI)
Need to belong Empty self
Threats to human identities
Human–AI interaction (HAII)
Human-Robot-Interaction (HRI)