Who are we interacting with? Roles attributed to artificial intelligence

Individuals may experience conflicts specific to their current stage of development. These conflicts shape personality development and influence individuals’ interactions with their environment. Artificial intelligence (AI) applications, which have become increasingly widespread, are now an integral part of daily life and represent a significant aspect of young adults’ interactions with technology. This study aimed to examine the roles, expectations, and gender perceptions that young adults attribute to AI based on their experiences using these applications. A mixed-methods embedded design was employed. The study included individuals aged 20–35 years and consisted of two groups: 20 participants in the qualitative phase and 115 participants in the quantitative phase. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted online. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using a short-answer questionnaire developed by the researchers. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, whereas quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages). The findings revealed that participants attributed various gender roles to AI and that these attributions shaped their expectations of AI. The results highlight the need for policies and guidelines to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI in the fields of education and mental health.