The role of AI in politics: The psychology of trust in AI-assisted policies and the leaders

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising society. As the sophistication of AI increases, so too does the complexity of the tasks that machines are being used. Already AI is being used in increasingly morally relevant contexts, such as allocating scarce medical resources1 and in military combat2.

A growing literature is starting to explore the psychology of our attitudes and trust towards such "moral machines" 3-4, but with the rise of complex generative AI, we face pivotal questions about integrating these transformative technologies into our political and social institutions for the greater good. It is already being suggested that just as AI might be used to inform human moral decision-making5, it might also help shape policy and political institutions by analysing constituent needs and providing policy recommendations 6-7.

Indeed, a recent report suggests that nearly half of US federal agencies have experimented with AI and machine learning tools8. We know the perceived legitimacy of institutions influences public compliance with changes in policy9 and we are building knowledge about trust in AI in general10, but less is known about the consequences of people's attitudes towards AI in political contexts and institutions- despite the increasing use of it for such purposes.

My project will investigate how people trust and evaluate AI-assisted policies; how people think about the leaders who use AI to assist in policymaking; and how this will depend on the sensitive recommendations being made. To do this, I will conduct a novel mixed-methods investigation drawing on insights from psychology, political science, and AI ethics to understand how the use of AI will influence trust in policies and political leaders, particularly in policy dilemmas involving utilitarian trade-offs.

My work, aligning within the SEDarc's theme of transformative technologies, will fill a critical gap in our understanding of AI's role in political decision-making, providing insight into the intersection of technology, morality, and governance in modern democracies.