Attitude–intention nexus towards memory implants: embracing choice and navigating destiny from the perspective of free will and fatalistic determinism

Purpose Ethical debates surrounding brain–machine interfaces, particularly memory implants, are well documented, yet research has predominantly emphasised cognitive, affective and ethical judgements alongside behavioural intentions to adopt such technologies. The attitudinal dimension, arguably a central driver of behavioural intention, remains underexplored. Moreover, the strength of this attitude–intention link may vary depending on individuals’ deeper life schemas, especially their beliefs in free will or adherence to fatalism. Such orientations may reinforce or weaken the translation of attitudes into intentions. This study aims to address these gaps by examining how attitudes shape intentions to adopt memory implants, with free will and fatalistic determinism considered as potential moderating influences. Design/methodology/approach Using a cross-sectional research design, the authors collected data from 402 young native technology users across four different countries. SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the moderation effect of free will and fatalism. Findings The results of the study confirm a positive relationship between attitude and the intention to adopt memory implants. While free will is positively associated with intention, fatalistic determinism is negatively linked to it. Notably, the authors found that free will does not moderate the relationship between attitude and the intention to use memory implants. In contrast, fatalism emerges as a significant moderator, indicating a stronger effect in individuals with low scores in fatalistic determinism. Originality/value These findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of memory implant acceptance, guiding future research and offering practical insights for both sceptics and advocates of brain–machine interfaces, including ethicists and medical practitioners.