Artificial intelligence at the wheel: exploring tourists’ trust in autonomous vehicles through a time-lagged survey

Purpose This study aims to explore how artificial autonomy affects tourists’ trust in autonomous vehicles (AVs) using the two-waves quantitative method. Design/methodology/approach Study 1 used the Delphi method to determine the independent variables in the research. Study 2 adopted partial least squares structural equation modeling and necessary condition analysis to test the sufficient and necessary relationships between the variables. Findings The results confirm that sensing, thought and action autonomies are important factors that influence accessibility. Sensing and action autonomy do not significantly affect memorable experience, while thought autonomy and accessibility are crucial in memorable experience. Accessibility and memorable experiences largely shape tourists’ trust in AV. Originality/value This study clarifies the determinants of tourists’ trust in AV from the perspective of artificial autonomy, providing valuable insights for the research on AI technology and AV. Additionally, this study provides important theoretical guidance for how car manufacturers can better serve the tourism industry.