A four-wave longitudinal study on attitudes toward the use of AI in different domains—The self-determination theory and locus of control perspective

Artificial intelligence (AI) has gained a foothold in diverse domains and it is being used by both specialists and private individuals. The aim of this study was to analyze people's attitudes toward the use of AI across 12 domains—medicine, nursing and caregiving, teaching and education, traffic, urban planning, building and real estate technology, defense forces, information security, job recruitment, dating services, culture and art, and political decision-making. We used the self-determination theory (SDT) and locus of control (LOC) as theoretical frameworks. This study was based on longitudinal four-wave data collected in the period 2021–2024 from participants in Finland (N = 1,226, 4,904 observations). The main independent variables were the three basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—and their technological fulfillment. Our analyses were based on multilevel between–within regression models. Technological relatedness revealed both between-person effects (differences among individuals) and within-person effects (differences over time). Technological autonomy revealed significant between- and within-person effects only in specific domains. Technological competence was not a significant factor in our models. We found that a higher internal LOC was associated with positive attitudes toward AI employed in the fields of medicine and the defense forces. Our findings imply that when people experience connectedness while interacting with AI, they are more likely to view this technology in a positive manner, while experiencing autonomy and having a higher internal LOC is significant only in specific domains. These findings should be considered when designing AI tools and developing AI integration strategies and use policies.