Abstract

With the advancement of artificial intelligence technology, intelligent agents capable of understanding natural speech, automatically assessing situations, and actively performing tasks are now serving as personal assistants in various contexts. Recognizing that intelligent agents serve as aides in decision-making and goal achievement, this study explores whether the acceptance of suggestions from these agents varies based on communication methods. Specifically, we investigated how an intelligent agent’s communication method affects intentions to accept suggestions in situations where the agent may struggle to achieve a long-term goal. The findings revealed that the ‘Don’t’ communication method of the intelligent agent was associated with a higher intention to accept suggestions compared to the ‘Can’t’ communication method in scenarios involving non-conforming behavior choices. However, there was no discernible difference between the two methods in situations where delayed action conforming to the goal was required. This study is significant as it underscores the impact of communication methods employed by intelligent agents when users engage in goal-inappropriate behavior during long-term goal pursuits.