Jackie Tang's Preliminary Exam
PhD candidate Jackie Tang will present his proposal defense, "The Role of Proximity in Human-Agent Trust." Tang's preliminary examination committee includes Associate Professor Masooda Bashir (chair), Emeritus Professor Daniel G Morrow, Assistant Professor Nigel Bosch, and Assistant Professor Christopher Ball.
Abstract
The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and computational power have led to the widespread adoption of intelligent agents, transforming human-agent interaction into a vital collaboration. As these agents become increasingly important roles, trust emerges as a critical factor in determining the success of these partnerships. However, few studies have rigorously investigated the relationship between trust formation dynamics and the multifaceted concept of proximity, which has been proven instrumental in cultivating trust within human-human relationships. This thesis aims to empirically explore how different dimensions of proximity influence trustworthiness perceptions toward intelligent agents, bridging the gap in understanding how the proximity framework translates to human-agent trust. By integrating the constructs of proximity and trust, this work seeks to derive novel insights into the conceptual linkages between distinct proximity dimensions (social, cultural, cognitive, and geographical) and human trust toward virtual agents, ultimately paving the way for more effective human-agent collaborations.