Human trust in AI: a relationship beyond reliance

Abstract

Trust in artificial intelligence (AI) is often discussed by both the general public and a part of academia. The discourse on trust in AI is often presented as analogous to trust in people. However, it is unclear whether the concept of trust can suitably be extended to describe relationships between humans and other entities. In this article, I will argue that the main features of trusting relationships apply both when the trustee is a human or an AI system. This view is opposed to the claim that only humans can be trusted and that technology, at its best, can be just relied on. However, it is commonly accepted that reliance has weaker implications than trust. We often rely on those whom we need or want to do something for us, regardless of their motivation to act. I will argue that motivation is relevant for trust, both in humans and in AI. Because of this, I propose trust as a suitable goal to aim for when shaping human-AI relationships.