User-AI intimacy in digital health

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Digital Health
• Psychology of Intimacy

Background:

• AI-enabled technologies are increasingly used for self-mental healthcare.
• Understanding user perceptions of intimacy towards AI in digital health is crucial due to rapid development and use.
• Divergent views exist on user-AI intimacy and its implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To understand how users perceive feelings of intimacy towards AI applications in digital health.
• To develop a conceptual model of User-Artificial Intelligence (AI) intimacy in digital health.
• To explore the mechanisms and conditions that transform intimate interactions into intimate relationships with AI.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-method analysis of 4,754 user reviews from Wysa, an AI-driven digital health application.
• Drawing on the theory of the psychology of intimacy.
• Development of a conceptual model based on five interconnected mechanisms.

Main Results:

• A conceptual model of User-AI intimacy in digital health was developed.
• Five interconnected mechanisms (topical content of self-disclosure, experiential outcomes of self-disclosure, emotional attitudes towards AI, cognitive positioning of AI, and AI technological affordances) were identified.
• These mechanisms interact to transform intimate interactions into intimate relationships.

Conclusions:

• The study provides novel insights into intimacy theory within the context of AI.
• The developed model contributes to understanding and managing AI healthcare applications in mental health.
• Temporal and anthropomorphic conditions influencing User-AI intimacy were discussed.