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Cultural Dimensions of AI Perception: Charting Expectations, Risks, Benefits, Tradeoffs, and Value in Germany and China

Created by
  • Haebom

Author

Philipp Brauner, Felix Glawe, Gian Luca Liehner, Luisa Vervier, Martina Ziefle

Outline

This exploratory study examines cultural differences in mental models of AI using 71 imaginaries of potential AI futures, based on the belief that public perception of AI, particularly its biases, risks, and benefits, is essential for setting research priorities, aligning AI, shaping public opinion, and formulating policy. Using convenience samples from Germany (N=52) and China (N=60), we identified significant differences in expectations, evaluations, and risk-benefit trade-offs. German participants generally provided more cautious assessments, whereas Chinese participants expressed greater optimism about the societal benefits of AI. Chinese participants exhibited a relatively balanced trade-off between risks and benefits (β=-0.463 for risks, β=+0.484 for benefits, r²=.630). In contrast, German participants placed greater emphasis on the benefits of AI and less on the risks (β=-0.337 for risks, β=+0.715 for benefits, r²=.839). Visual cognitive maps illustrate these contrasts, offering a new perspective on how cultural context influences AI adoption. The findings highlight key factors influencing public perception, offering insights for aligning AI with societal values and promoting the equitable and culturally sensitive integration of AI technology.

Takeaways, Limitations

Takeaways:
It shows that public perception of AI varies greatly depending on cultural background.
Specifically presenting cultural differences in assessing the social benefits and risks of AI.
This suggests that cultural context must be taken into account for the ethical and fair integration of AI.
The need to reflect cultural factors in AI policy formulation and research priority setting is raised.
Limitations:
Limitations on generalizability exist due to the use of convenience samples.
It only targets two countries, Germany and China, so it does not sufficiently reflect cultural diversity.
Methodological limitations exist in measuring mental models of AI.
Larger-scale studies are needed to verify the generalizability of the results.
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