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Privacy concerns and willingness to adopt AI products: A cross-country randomized survey experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Gutmann, Jerg
  • Brandimarte, Laura
  • Muehlheusser, Gerd
  • Weber, Franziska

Abstract

We examine the trade-off between functionality and data privacy inherent in many AI products by conducting a randomized survey experiment with 1,734 participants from the US and several European countries. Participants' willingness to adopt a hypothetical, AI-enhanced app is measured under three sets of treatments: (i) installation defaults (opt-in vs. opt-out), (ii) salience of data privacy risks, and (iii) regulatory regimes with different levels of data protection. In addition, we study how the willingness to adopt depends on individual attitudes and preferences. We find no effect of defaults or salience, while a regulatory regime with stricter privacy protection increases the likelihood that the app is adopted. Finally, greater data privacy concerns, greater risk aversion, lower levels of trust, and greater skepticism toward AI are associated with a significantly lower willingness to adopt the app.

Suggested Citation

  • Gutmann, Jerg & Brandimarte, Laura & Muehlheusser, Gerd & Weber, Franziska, 2025. "Privacy concerns and willingness to adopt AI products: A cross-country randomized survey experiment," ILE Working Paper Series 83, University of Hamburg, Institute of Law and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:ilewps:83
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/313871/1/ile-wp-2025-83.pdf
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Artificial intelligence; privacy concerns; randomized survey experiment; smart products; technology adoption;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • K24 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Cyber Law
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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