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Do we trust humans or AI more? — Experimental evidence on individual and group trust behavior

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Listed:
  • de Boer, Hanna
  • Luo, Hao
  • Musshoff, Oliver
  • Hermann, Daniel

Abstract

Trust is a fundamental element of economic exchange, shaping interactions not only between individuals but also among groups. Prior literature shows that the dynamics of trust can vary systematically depending on whether decisions are made individually or collectively. In light of the increasing deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the question arises as to whether these patterns extend to interactions involving non-human agents. Our study addresses this question by comparing trust behavior towards AI (ChatGPT 4o) and human receivers across individual and group decision-making settings using a one-shot Trust Game. We do not find statistically significant differences in trust behavior either between individuals and groups or between AI and human receivers.

Suggested Citation

  • de Boer, Hanna & Luo, Hao & Musshoff, Oliver & Hermann, Daniel, 2026. "Do we trust humans or AI more? — Experimental evidence on individual and group trust behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:115:y:2026:i:c:s0167487026000401
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2026.102916
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    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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