Beyond Words: The Influence of Character-Inspired Voices on Human-AI Dialogue System

Recent research suggests that conversation systems using voices resembling a user’s close contacts, such as family and friends, may be perceived as more persuasive, though this area remains understudied. However, the impact of voices resembling familiar characters on interactions with autonomous systems remains not fully understood. To facilitate communication, conversational systems could tap into users’ existing perceptions of familiar characters. This article explores how character-inspired voices, based on well-known personalities, influence user perception and interaction with AI systems. The study involved 26 participants interacting with an autonomous conversation platform featuring three voice profiles inspired by famous figures. Participants’ preferences for these real characters (most liked, neutral, and most disliked) were assessed before interaction, and their perceptions of the AI system were evaluated afterward. Results showed that users’ preferences for specific personalities influenced their perception of the AI system in terms of engagement, interest, and knowledge, suggesting that familiar voices can improve user experience and provide insights for enhancing voice-based AI systems.