## Matching Voices boost Trust in Self-Driving Cars, Study finds
A recent study reveals that the voice of a self-driving car can significantly impact public trust, with individuals reporting higher levels of trust when the voice aligns with their own gender. The research, presented at the Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society annual meeting, investigated how voice characteristics influence both cognitive (logical) and affective (emotional) trust in autonomous vehicles (AVs).
The study,involving over 300 US drivers participating in an online experiment,showed that gender similarity strongly influenced both a driver’s logical confidence in the car’s abilities *and* their emotional connection to it. Age similarity, however, primarily shaped the emotional bond. Participants watched six videos of a self-driving car navigating various scenarios, with the car’s voice narrating its actions, and then rated their trust levels.
researchers found that when the car’s voice matched both the user’s gender *and* traditional gender role expectations, trust increased across both cognitive and affective dimensions. However, a gender match without aligning with traditional roles primarily boosted emotional trust, not logical trust.
“these findings highlight the importance of considering gender in AV voice design for conveying critical driving data and reveal how societal stereotypes shape AV design,” explained Lionel robert Jr., a University of Michigan professor of information and robotics.
The study acknowledges a potential challenge: while leveraging gender roles may enhance trust, it also carries the risk of reinforcing existing stereotypes. Researchers suggest exploring options like customizable voices, gender-neutral designs, or even non-human sounds.
qiaoning (Carol) Zhang, assistant professor of human systems engineering at Arizona State University and the study’s lead author, emphasized the importance of relatable voices. ”Designing AV voices to feel more personal and relatable could make people more cozy trusting them,” she stated.
The research also underscores the broader implications for public safety, even for those who don’t plan to own a self-driving car. “Even if you never plan to own a self-driving car,you will almost certainly share the road with them,” noted X Jessie Yang,associate professor of information and industrial and operations engineering.”Building trust in these vehicles is crucial for public safety and the seamless integration of automated cars into our transportation system.”
The study builds on existing research highlighting public skepticism surrounding the safety and reliability of fully autonomous vehicles, as noted in previous findings (https://www.futurity.org/fully-autonomous-vehicles-trust-safety-3237222/). The current study was released based on findings published in https://doi.org/10.1177/10711813251364804.
*Source: University of Michigan*
