Anthropomorphic AI: Sociopathic AI Features as Predictors of Career Opportunities and Threats Perceived by Pilots in Commercial Aviation

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Objective The study aims to investigate how anthropomorphic, particularly sociopathic, features ascribed to AI affect commercial pilots’ perceptions of career threats, opportunities, and performance benefits of AI integration in the cockpit.Background Although technology has long been an irreplaceable, valuable ally for airline pilots, artificial intelligence (AI) differs significantly from previously used technologies and pilots perceive AI not only as a tool but as an agent with human-like attributes. These anthropomorphic perceptions shape their career-related attitudes, especially as AI’s cognitive capabilities and ethical limitations challenge pilot identity.Methods Survey data were collected from 363 commercial pilots and measures included anthropomorphic features ascribed to AI (including sociopathic AI features), perceived career threats and opportunities as well as expected performance enhancement due to AI. Regression and moderated mediation analyses were conducted.Background Sociopathic AI features were positively associated with career threats and negatively with opportunities. Career opportunities significantly mediated the relationship between sociopathic features and perceived performance gains. Perceived career threats related to AI reduced performance expectations due to AI only when perceived career opportunities were low.Conclusions The study offers a broad perspective on introducing artificial intelligence into the cockpit, considering commercial pilots' tendency to anthropomorphise AI. It seeks to ensure that AI can deliver operational benefits in safety and performance that meet the industry's and its end-users' needs, therefore addressing ethical concerns is critical for AI integration in aviation.