From Cute to Incompetent: The Impact of Anthropomorphic Design on Responsibility Attribution in Autonomous Driving

In the era of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, the shift from human labor to machines is evident. This study focuses on autonomous vehicles (AVs) and explores the attribution of responsibility in the case of accidents, considering anthropomorphic design elements in the vehicle front. Prior research emphasizes the positive effects of anthropomorphizing technology but has overlooked potential drawbacks. By examining specific facial schemas, we aim to understand how design elements influence responsibility attribution in AVs. Our findings suggest that a baby-faced design reduces responsibility attribution in non-autonomous vehicles but increases it in fully autonomous vehicles.