The trust trifecta: How transparency, ethics, and benefits shape public confidence in government AI

Abstract

As governments increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) in public administration, public trust is critical for successful implementation. Using an adapted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this study examines how perceived transparency, ethical principles, and perceived benefits of government AI adoption affect public trust. This study is especially applicable in the domain of China's rapid digital transformation and the government's push for AI-driven smart city initiatives, where unique cultural values and governance structures shape public perceptions differently from Western contexts. Data from 608 Chinese citizens were collected through a questionnaire survey to measure perceived AI transparency, ethical principles, perceived benefits, and public trust in government AI use. This research applied structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the proposed relationships and mediating effects. The findings indicate that both perceived transparency and ethical principles positively affect the perceived benefits of AI technology, which significantly increases public trust in government AI use. Transparency and ethics also directly affect public trust. Notably, perceived benefits mediated the relationship between transparency, ethics, and public trust, suggesting that transparency and ethics indirectly affect trust by influencing perceived benefits. This study validates the extended TAM in the context of government AI applications and shows that improving transparency and ethical compliance in AI use can increase perceived gains and thus public trust in government AI technologies. These insights provide valuable guidance for policymakers to optimize AI application strategies and improve public acceptance, especially in the Chinese context where balancing technological advances with public concerns is becoming increasingly important.