Who Uses Conversational AI and Why? Uncovering Distinct User Profiles, Their Antecedents and Mental Health Outcomes
summary:
With the increasing use of conversational AI (CAI) agents, such as ChatGPT, public concern about their social implications has grown. Beyond instrumental reasons (e.g., work-related), many people use these agents for personal purposes, such as social support and entertainment. Yet, no study has examined the motivational profiles underlying CAI use, their personality and attachment antecedents, and their consequences for mental health outcomes. To address this gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study with 782 CAI users (Mage = 43.47, SD = 13.59). Drawing on Uses and Gratifications Theory, we measured key motivations underlying CAI use, including information seeking, task efficacy, personalization, social interaction, and playfulness, and subjected them to latent profile analysis to uncover distinct motivational profiles. To identify the antecedents of these profiles, we included Big Five personality traits (Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness) and attachment styles (Anxious and Avoidant) as predictors. Finally, we measured emotional, social, and psychological well-being as key outcome variables of the identified profiles. The analyses identified three distinct profiles of CAI users: Occasional Information Seekers, Utilitarians, and All-Round Engagers, most strongly differentiated by their levels of social interaction and playfulness motivations. Individual differences in attachment anxiety and extraversion significantly predicted the likelihood of belonging to a specific profile. Finally, profile membership was predictive of social well-being, with All-Round Engagers reporting higher levels of social well-being than Utilitarians. These findings advance our understanding of who engages with CAI and how, with implications for mental health outcomes.