Will you help AI? A longitudinal study on the relationship between interacting with chatbots and altruistic willingness towards AI

Zehang Xie

Behaviour and Information Technology, 2025, vol. 44, issue 18, 4510-4522

Abstract: In the digital age, as generative artificial intelligence rapidly advances, much attention has focused on how these advancements benefit humanity. Yet, human altruistic willingness towards AI remains largely unexplored. This longitudinal study, utilising a two-wave survey and grounded in social exchange theory, explores how interaction frequency (IFC) influences altruistic willingness (AW) towards AI across two distinct interaction scenarios: virtual companionship and knowledge acquisition, and investigates the mediating role of perceived chatbot responsiveness (PCR). Engaging 1134 undergraduate students from Eastern China, our findings unveil a nuanced relationship: in the virtual companionship scenario, a positive correlation was observed between IFC and AW, suggesting that emotional engagement with chatbots leads users to exhibit altruistic willingness as a form of reciprocity. Conversely, in the knowledge acquisition context – a more transactional interaction – increased IFC was unexpectedly associated with reduced AW. Nevertheless, PCR emerged as a mediating factor that could enhance AW, indicating that even in utilitarian interactions, responsive chatbot features could foster a positive shift in altruistic willingness. This study underscores the importance of designing AI with both functional efficiency and the capacity for empathetic, humanlike interactions to boost user engagement and encourage ethical AI development, thereby enriching our understanding of the dynamics of human-AI relationships.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/0144929X.2025.2481640

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