{"id":34420,"date":"2026-02-17T08:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T08:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=34420"},"modified":"2026-02-18T22:06:46","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T22:06:46","slug":"feeling-connected-boosts-trust-in-ai-global-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/feeling-connected-boosts-trust-in-ai-global-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeling Connected Boosts Trust in AI, Global Study Finds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A major international study finds that trust in AI depends less on technical performance and more on whether people feel connected, included and supported when using it. The results point to a future where human-centered design and governance are key to building trustworthy AI.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Trust in artificial intelligence is not just about how well the technology works. It is also about whether people feel connected, supported and included when they use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A new global study led by researchers at Tampere University in Finland finds that positive attitudes toward AI and a sense of relatedness when using technology are the strongest and most consistent predictors of trust in AI systems and the companies that build them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team took a socio-psychological approach, looking beyond code and algorithms to basic human needs. They examined how feelings of relatedness, autonomy and competence, along with attitudes toward AI and confidence in using it, shape people\u2019s willingness to trust AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Across 12 countries on six continents, one pattern stood out: people who felt more positive about AI and more socially connected when using technology were more likely to trust both AI tools and AI-driven companies. In contrast, feeling technically skilled, in control or highly self-confident with AI mattered only in some national contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First author Anica Cvetkovic, a doctoral researcher at Tampere University, emphasized how deeply AI is now woven into everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAs AI systems increasingly mediate how people work, communicate and access information, trust is no longer just about whether a technology functions correctly,\u201d she said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study drew on survey data from 11,259 participants in 2024, making it one of the most wide-ranging examinations to date of how trust in AI develops around the world. The findings, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/0144929X.2026.2619648\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in the journal <em>Behaviour &amp; Information Technology<\/em>, highlight that trust is as much a social and psychological issue as a technical one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cvetkovic and her colleagues did not just ask about AI in the abstract. They also examined trust in major technology companies, including social media platforms that rely heavily on AI. This dual focus shows how closely public views of corporate behavior and AI technology are now intertwined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When people think about AI, they are often also thinking about the companies that design and deploy it, from recommendation engines on social media to automated systems that shape what news, entertainment or services they see. If those interactions feel fair, inclusive and respectful, trust can grow. If they feel opaque, manipulative or disempowering, trust can erode quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By including participants from regions with very different levels of digital infrastructure and distinct cultural norms, the research also sheds light on global inequalities in AI development and governance. People\u2019s everyday experiences with technology \u2014 whether they feel empowered or excluded \u2014 appear to play a crucial role in shaping trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Atte Oksanen, a professor of social psychology at Tampere University and one of the lead researchers, stressed how high the stakes have become. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTrust in artificial intelligence, and particularly in the companies developing these systems, is becoming increasingly important,\u201d he said in the news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oksanen pointed out that AI is now central to work, communication and access to key services, and that geopolitical shifts have raised strategic questions for regions like Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAI now influences how we work, communicate and access essential services. Recent changes in global politics have also underlined the need for Europe to develop strong and reliable alternatives of its own. Ensuring trustworthy and transparent development is therefore not only a technological priority, but also a strategic one for our societies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The results support a human-centered and culturally sensitive approach to AI design and regulation. Simply making systems more accurate or training users to be more technically capable is not enough if people still feel disconnected, powerless or ignored when they interact with AI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, the researchers argue, designers and policymakers need to focus on how AI systems support people\u2019s basic psychological needs: Do users feel respected and heard? Do they understand what the system is doing and why? Do they feel that AI is working with them, not just on them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These questions are especially pressing for students and young professionals, who increasingly encounter AI in classrooms, job applications, health apps and social platforms. If those experiences feel inclusive and supportive, they can build confidence and trust. If not, they may deepen skepticism and resistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oksanen underlined that trust must rest on more than speed and accuracy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf AI is to be accepted as part of everyday life and public institutions, trust must be built on more than efficiency. Understanding how people relate to AI \u2013 and to the companies that develop it \u2013 is essential for the legitimacy of AI\u2011driven societies,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking ahead, the findings suggest several directions for action. For developers, it means involving diverse users early in the design process, explaining systems clearly and giving people meaningful choices about how AI affects them. For policymakers, it means crafting regulations that promote transparency, accountability and fairness, while recognizing that cultural context matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For universities and educators, the study highlights the importance of teaching not just technical skills, but also critical understanding of how AI shapes social life \u2014 and how to advocate for systems that are inclusive and trustworthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As AI continues to spread into nearly every sector, this research offers a clear message: building trust is not only a matter of better technology. It is about recognizing and respecting the human beings on the other side of the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:14px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tuni.fi\/en\/news\/relatedness-and-positive-attitudes-drive-trust-ai-and-its-developers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Tampere University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A major international study finds that trust in AI depends less on technical performance and more on whether people feel connected, included and supported when using it. The results point to a future where human-centered design and governance are key to building trustworthy AI.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[572],"class_list":["post-34420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ai","tag-tampere-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A major international study finds that trust in AI depends less on technical performance and more on whether people feel connected, included and supported when using it. The results point to a future where human-centered design and governance are key to building trustworthy AI.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34420"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34427,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34420\/revisions\/34427"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}