Validation of the general attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale in the Italian context and the role of trust

Recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have profoundly impacted various sectors, including healthcare, education, and security, leading to a paradigm shift in the way in which society engages with technology. Considering the increasing integration of AI in these critical areas, it is important to understand people's attitudes towards this technology to understand their acceptance of AI. The present study aimed to validate the General Attitudes towards Artificial Intelligence Scale (GAAIS) in the Italian context. The study examined the psychometric properties of the scale and explored the relationship between interpersonal trust and attitudes towards AI. The GAAIS, previously validated in the UK and Turkey, was translated into Italian. The scale was administered to two independent samples of Italian adults (Study 1, N = 205; Study 2, N = 121). Participants varied in age, gender, and self-reported familiarity with AI, offering a culturally specific perspective on attitudes toward AI in the Italian context. The study also investigated potential factors that may influence AI attitudes, including demographic characteristics, computer usage, and knowledge about AI. The findings supported the hypothesized link between positive attitudes with younger male individuals, higher education levels and greater familiarity with AI. Data also showed that epistemic mistrust –i.e. the lack of confidence in the reliability of a source measured through the Epistemic Trust, Mistrust and Credulity Questionnaire (ETMCQ), correlated with skepticism, while epistemic trust –i.e. the willingness to accept information from others as reliable– was linked to forgiving attitudes towards AI drawbacks. These findings underscored the pivotal role that interpersonal trust and cultural context play in shaping public attitudes towards AI.