Mapping AI Perception: Testing the Stereotype Content Model and Mind Perception Dimensions to characterise the Perception of AI

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into everyday life is accelerating, yet research on how individuals view different AIs remains limited. This online, preregistered study (N = 123) investigated such perceptions through three conceptual frameworks: the Stereotype Content Model, the Mind Perception Dimensions, and a novel framework synthesised from the other two. Results indicated that AI is not perceived homogeneously; rather, distinct clusters emerged in each framework. Perceptions of different AIs seem to be primarily organised along two dimensions: competence (people’s perception of an AI’s capacity to perform intended functions) and subjectivity (people’s perception of an AI’s ability to simulate having subjective experiences). We highlight the implications of these findings for Human–AI interaction (HAI) research and AI ethics and outline avenues for future research.