The Mediating Effect of Dark Future between Personality Traits and Fear of Artificial Intelligence in Arab Young Adults

Abstract

Background Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence is a novel concept introduced to measure how fearful individuals are about Artificial Intelligence and autonomous robots. This study aimed to measure the mediating effect of dark future, a measure of future anxiety, between personality traits and Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence. Methods Using the snowball sampling technique, participants (n = 1839) were Arab adults who completed the Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence Scale, Arabic Big Five Personality Inventory, and the Dark Future Scale. Results The results of the mediation analysis showed that dark future mediated the association between extroversion/neuroticism/agreeableness and fear of Artificial Intelligence. Higher extroversion was significantly associated with less dark future, whereas more dark future was significantly associated with higher Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence (FARAI) scores. Extroversion was not directly associated with FARAI scores. Higher neuroticism and agreeableness were significantly associated with more dark future, whereas more dark future was significantly associated with higher FARAI scores. Neuroticism and agreeableness were significantly directly associated with higher FARAI scores. Conclusion This study suggests that the relationship between certain personality traits and Fear of Autonomous Robots and Artificial Intelligence can be explained by evaluating one’s Dark Future. This shall help improve research on attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence and also have clinical implications in treating cases of Artificial Intelligence fear.