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Exploiting the machine: Human cooperation with artificial agents in Prisoner’s Dilemma

Author

Listed:
  • Iván Barreda-Tarrazona

    (LEE and Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Ainhoa Jaramillo-Gutiérrez

    (LEE and Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Marina Pavan

    (LEE & Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

  • Gerardo Sabater-Grande

    (LEE and Department of Economics, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón, Spain)

Abstract

We run a controlled laboratory experiment using one-shot and finitely Repeated Prisoner’s Dilemma (RPD) games to study cooperation with an artificial agent who acts as a human and on behalf of a human. We design a rich setting, controlling for beliefs, emotions, and personal characteristics, to understand the reasons for the possibly different cooperation choices between the baseline (“Humans”) and the artificial agents’ (“AA”) treatment. We find that the likelihood of cooperation does not depend on the nature of the counterpart in the one-shot Prisoner’s Dilemma games. In the RPD games, however, cooperation is less likely if subjects play with an artificial agent than if they play with other humans. By combining individual decisions and beliefs, we can identify an “exploiting the partner” behavior: the individual not cooperating while expecting the partner to cooperate. Our results suggest that people are more likely to exploit artificial agents than human partners when they anticipate cooperation, even if the artificial agent is acting on behalf of a human counterpart.

Suggested Citation

  • Iván Barreda-Tarrazona & Ainhoa Jaramillo-Gutiérrez & Marina Pavan & Gerardo Sabater-Grande, 2025. "Exploiting the machine: Human cooperation with artificial agents in Prisoner’s Dilemma," Working Papers 2025/02, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    • Handle: RePEc:jau:wpaper:2025/02
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pedro Dal Bó, 2005. "Cooperation under the Shadow of the Future: Experimental Evidence from Infinitely Repeated Games," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 95(5), pages 1591-1604, December.
    2. Marc T. P. Adam & Timm Teubner & Henner Gimpel, 2018. "No Rage Against the Machine: How Computer Agents Mitigate Human Emotional Processes in Electronic Negotiations," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 27(4), pages 543-571, August.
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    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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