Second Chances: The Impact of Remeasurements on Performance and Trust in Voice User Interfaces for Nuclear Safeguards

Voice User Interface (VUI) communications significantly affect user decisions and trust, especially in high-stakes areas like international nuclear safeguards. We investigate these effects through two controlled experiments centered on nuclear safeguards inspection tasks. In Experiment 1, participants evaluated a seal on a nuclear container for tampering, with VUI uncertainty communication manipulated by varying remeasurement suggestions—suggested, required, or none. Results indicated that participants in the suggested remeasure condition exhibited higher trust in the VUI and improved accuracy in identifying true negatives, although they had slower response times for false positives. Experiment 2 involved a nuclear materials measurement task, where the VUI facilitated data collection. While most participants reported similar trust levels, those who perceived differences favored the suggested remeasure condition. Additionally, participants demonstrated quicker responses and higher compliance rates when the VUI recommended remeasurements. Overall, these findings suggest that VUI recommendations can enhance user trust and performance in critical applications.