Study: Human Qualities of Virtual Influencers Can Affect Trustworthiness in Parasocial Relationships

Wednesday October 23, 2024

A new study has found that consumers rely on distinct criteria at different relationship stages to evaluate the trustworthiness of virtual influencers. The findings by University of Florida College …

Look Who’s Talking: Celebrity Causes vs. AI-Powered Advocacy

Wednesday September 25, 2024

Is a celebrity’s endorsement truly helpful for a given cause? It depends on how authentic they seem. Despite the rise of AI-powered influencers, people still tend to trust their fellow humans, even if their motives are partly driven by profit.

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Study: The Advantage of Virtual Influencers in Commercial Marketing May Not Enhance Their Role in Advocacy for Social Causes

Wednesday August 14, 2024

A new study has found that the advantages of virtual influencers in commercial marketing do not necessarily enhance their role in advocacy for social causes. The findings by Miami University …

Study: Facial Recognition Technology in Human-Robot Interaction Enhances Users’ Robot Acceptance

Thursday June 20, 2024

A new study suggests that the transparency of facial recognition technology in human–robot interaction increases users’ social presence, reduces privacy concerns and enhances users’ acceptance …

Empowering Citizens in the Age of AI: The Importance of Efficacy and Literacy

Tuesday April 9, 2024

For years, researchers have grappled with understanding the relationship between technology and political behavior. A team of researchers has developed a novel approach to examine how AI-related news consumption, discussions and literacy influence citizens’ support for AI policies.

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Study: Virtual Influencers are Perceived as Less Effective in Comparison with Human Influencers

Wednesday February 7, 2024

A new study has found that virtual influencers are perceived as less authentic across all product types. The findings by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) …

Study: Frequent Consumption of AI-Related News Can Lead to Increased AI Literacy and Support of AI Policies and Regulation

Tuesday January 2, 2024

A new study has found that frequent consumption of artificial intelligence (AI)-related news amplifies political discussion about AI and leads to increased AI literacy and support of AI policies and …

Four UFCJC Faculty and Two Doctoral Students Contribute to Research Handbook on AI and Communication

Tuesday November 21, 2023

Four University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) faculty and two doctoral students are included in the Research Handbook on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Communication …

Who’s Responsible for Brand Success or Failure When the Endorser Isn’t Human?

Monday May 15, 2023

Brands are increasingly using virtual influencers for promotion, which results in multilayered ads. The virtual influencer, the company behind the influencer, and the brand could all be seen as responsible for the success or failure of an endorsement by the consumer. So, what does this mean for consumers and brand advertisers?

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Hanging Out with My Pandemic Pal: Voice Assistants as Human Agents During COVID 19

Friday April 14, 2023

With limited human interaction during COVID, many people turned to voice assistants for connection. But what exactly led people to anthropomorphize nonhuman agents like voice assistants during COVID-19? This study explores that question.

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Study: Voice Assistants Can Help People Feel Less Lonely and Develop Psychological Well-Being

Wednesday January 18, 2023

A new study demonstrates that peoples’ social motivations for using voice assistants have a significant influence on how they perceive voice assistants’ character, persona and role. The findings …

My Tutor is an AI: The Effects of Involvement and Tutor Type on Perceived Quality, Perceived Credibility, and Use Intention

Tuesday August 16, 2022

Artificial Intelligence is now being used to help tutor students at all educational levels. This research explores whether or not AI tutors are as effective as human tutors, specifically in language and writing education.

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Societal Issues and User Experience and Engagement Dominated Human-Machine Communication Research Over the Past Decade

Wednesday June 29, 2022

The field of human-machine communication has grown exponentially over  the past 10 years with the advancement of new artificial intelligence technology. Research on HMC has also exploded focusing on both the technology itself and the implications for users and society.

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Smart Speakers Require Smart Management

Thursday January 13, 2022

The use of smart speakers, such as Alexa and Google Assistant, has become ubiquitous in American society. UFCJC researchers wanted to better understand the different ways people use the devices, as well as identify the main strategies they use to protect their privacy during that use.

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Video: Doctoral Student Fanjue Liu Discusses AI-Enabled Virtual Assistants as Social Actors

Thursday September 16, 2021

Doctoral student Fanjue Liu is exploring how AI-enabled virtual assistants, like Alexa or Siri, can mitigate feelings of loneliness and isolation, particularly during the pandemic.

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Kun Xu Co-Authors Article on Using Machine Learning to Learn Machines

Friday December 11, 2020

Kun Xu, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Telecommunication assistant professor in emerging media, is the co-author of “Using Machine Learning to Learn Machines: A …