Distinct predictors of positive attitudes toward artificial intelligence and general technology: big five traits, gender, and age

The quick advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) necessitates a broad understanding of public attitudes. While prior research has identified various demographic and psychological predictors, the role of personality remains relatively underexplored. Previous studies have not yet comprehensively investigated how attitudes toward AI can differ from those toward technology in general within the same individuals. The present investigation studies how age, gender, and the Big Five personality traits predict these distinct attitudes within the same sample. Our study found that personality traits influence technology acceptance: openness to experience is associated with positive attitudes toward AI, but shows no significant relationship with attitudes toward technology in general. On the contrary, agreeableness is associated with positive attitudes toward general technology, but not specifically toward AI. Younger and male participants held more positive attitudes toward both AI and general technology; notably, age was a substantially weaker predictor of attitudes toward AI than toward technology in general. These results suggest that perceptions of AI are influenced by distinct psychological drivers, differing from those that affect general technology acceptance, likely due to the novelty and perceived impact of AI. Our findings update the academic discourse and provide guidance to ensure AI benefits are accessible to everyone.