Risk perception and generative AI discontinuance intention: mediating effect of cognitive fatigue and moderating...

With the rapid popularization of generative artificial intelligence (AI), the risks of misinformation dissemination and user privacy leakage have become key factors influencing users' decisions on the continuous use of AI. Most existing studies focus on the driving mechanisms of AI adoption, while there is insufficient exploration of the reasons for negative usage outcomes, especially the reasons for users to discontinue using the technology. Based on the cognitive-affective-behavioral (C-A-B) framework, this study analyzes the data from 426 valid questionnaires to explore how risk perception affects users' intention to discontinue using AI, identify the mediating role of cognitive fatigue, and the moderating role of AI dependence-which refers to users' deep psychological and behavioral attachment to AI tools and differs from casual habitual use and general technology reliance. The study finds that both the misinformation risk perception and privacy risk perception significantly increase AI anxiety, and this effect is further strengthened by increased misinformation fatigue and privacy fatigue. Meanwhile, AI anxiety significantly promotes users' intention to discontinue using AI, and AI dependence has a negative moderating effect on this relationship. Therefore, cognitive fatigue is an important mediating mechanism connecting risk perception and affective response, and affective factors are key antecedent variables driving users' technology discontinuation intention.