In AI we trust? Citizen perceptions of AI in government decision making

Using a survey experiment on the topic of tax auditing, we investigate artificial intelligence (AI) use in government decision making through the lenses of citizen red tape and trust. We find that individuals consider an AI-led decision to be lower in red tape and trustworthiness than a decision by a human. We also find that highly complex tasks produce decisions with higher levels of perceived red tape, but that this effect does not vary according to whether the task is AI- or human-led. We argue that researchers and practitioners give more attention to the balance of instrumental and value-based qualities in the design and implementation of AI applications.