Technology For the Greater Good? The Influence of (Ir)responsible Systems on Human Emotions, Thinking and Behavior

In recent years, technological advancements, especially in AI, have made a substantial impact on perceptions, cognitions, emotions and behaviour of a vast number of people that use, and are subjected, to this technology. Technology can work in both, good and bad ways. Recent examples include the use of social media to elicit crowd funding for charitable purposes, chatbots to influence public opinion, the pitfalls of fallible biometrics, the influence of recommender systems on decision making, or, indeed, the use of companion robots.

This Research Topic will comprise a collection of papers that tap into the social influence of technologies on its users. For this issue, we adopt the description of social influence as involving intentional or unintentional efforts to affect the believes, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of others.

This Research Topic will highlight the un-/intended effects technology may have on individuals and societies, with the overarching goal to highlight dilemmas for stakeholders, but also good and bad practices in designing, creating and using technology. Designers and creators of technology systems should ensure their creations are ‘behaving’ in an ethical and transparent manner, consistent with responsible design principles. Users of technology should be aware if and how they are affected by its use to make informed decisions for themselves and others. Papers included in this issue should address the often ubiquitous influence of technology on our personal, social, and professional lives and/or the consequences arising from such influences.

This Research Topic will explore the effects of technology, including AI, on human behavior and the human mind. While the focus is on research papers including qualitative and quantitative research methods, review and opinion papers are also invited.