To what extent should human trust AI and machines?

Associate Professor Younbo Jung from Nanyang Technological University, a visiting scholar at Fudan Development Institute, examines the intersection of technology and human. With a focus on “Trust, Gerontechnology, and Digital Kinship”, Dr. Jung explores the dynamics of trust in AI systems and the role of technology in addressing aging societies. Collaborating with Professor ZHOU Baohua from Fudan's School of Journalism, his research aims to provide insights into human-AI interactions and propose technological solutions informed by traditional practices.

Dr. Jung has an interdisciplinary academic background, with undergraduate and master’s degrees in telecommunication from Michigan State University, and shifted to communication for his doctorate from the University of Southern California.

Q：What inspired you to shift your educational focus and why did you opt for such an interdisciplinary approach?

Dr. Jung: My shift from telecommunications to communication was not thoroughly planned. I started out as a business administration major in South Korea. But the surge of e-commerce prompted my move to the US, where I ended up earning degrees in telecommunications at Michigan State University. It was a nudge from my master’s degree advisor that led me to explore communication programs.

Multidisciplinary background helped me take a unique path within the communication discipline. It allows me to study the relationship between technologies and humans instead of focusing solely on interpersonal interactions. My PhD supervisor introduced me to innovative areas such as haptics and taught me the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration. 

Q: What inspired your research into trust in AI systems?

Dr. Jung: I don’t study one particular technology; instead, I look at fundamental issues behind the technology, such as what people do with technology and what impact it has. Therefore, I have studied video games, virtual reality for training, and now AI. 

The concept of trust is interesting because it inherently involves taking a risk or exposing oneself to vulnerability. Trust has traditionally been something we build with other people, but can we extend this concept to machines? Currently, people use the term “trust” for machines in the same way we do for humans, without any tweak, which might lead to confusion and over-reliance on machines.

Q: Could you further elaborate your study?

Dr. Jung: When a new technology emerges, people tend to fall into one of two camps: utopian dreamers or dystopian doomsayers. The dystopians worry that AI will take over and subjugate us. However, we should ponder our motivations for creating tech—are we doing it for the sake of innovation or to genuinely help humanity?

So I conducted an empirical study on trust in AI, using a simple approach inspired by the Turing test. This involved determining a machine’s ability to successfully simulate human-like intelligence, based solely on whether people could distinguish the machine from a human during interaction, without requiring complex assessments. I reached out to individuals to assess their trust in AI across various jobs by asking whether they believe AI is capable of handling these jobs and whether it is desirable to let AI perform them, thus measuring both AI’s capability and its social desirability. 

Additionally, I investigated the potential of AI in medical chatbots, especially for those who lack access to conventional healthcare. I hope that my research can inform practical implementations and deepen our understanding of human-machine interactions.

Q: As you are also studying gerontechnology, among all those countries bothered by aging problems, what made you decide to focus your research on China? 

Dr. Jung: I grew up in Korea, pursued my studies in the US, and later moved to Singapore. My previous research mainly focuses on the US and other developed nations which use technology to sustain productivity. But I have noticed an interesting shift happening in Asia, with aging populations and declining birth rates.

Then I delved into the field of gerontechnology, which combines gerontology and technology. Asia, with its higher life expectancies, presents unique opportunities, especially in China, where I have observed the elderly comfortably using mobile phones and other smart technologies. I am eager to spend time in China and across Asia to explore how tech-enabled solutions, such as augmented reality glasses and wearable skeletons, can compensate for the inevitable loss of cognitive and physical abilities among the elderly.

Q: What connected you with Professor ZHOU Baohua?

Dr. Jung：I have been in contact with Professor Zhou for more than ten years. We first met in an influential international conference which is called International Communication Association. When I told him that I was taking my sabbatical leave, he invited me to participate in a workshop on AI organized by the School of Journalism at Fudan University. As I wanted to extend my stay beyond the workshop period, Prof. Zhou introduced me the visiting scholar program at Fudan Development Institute. I applied for it, and to my delight, and successfully, I caught this invaluable opportunity to visit Fudan University as a visiting scholar and collaborate with Prof. Zhou.

Although I’ve only been here a week, I've grown quite fond of the campus and the city. Every time I came to Fudan, I’d spend at least 30 minutes sitting on a bench, just basking in the breeze. For me, Shanghai is an exquisite blend of tradition and modernity, all meticulously organized.

Q: This semester, Fudan University has launched more than a hundred cross-disciplinary courses based on AI. Would you tell us more details about the education programs you expect to contribute and what are your advice towards our course design?

Dr. Jung: Take Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as an example. Industries now demand cross-disciplinary skills from new employees. Recognizing this trend, NTU introduced new courses for incoming students about three to four years ago. I was responsible for a course called “Science and Technology for Humanities,” which is taken by 7,000 students annually.

This course delves into topics like aging, blockchain, and AI, examining them through the lenses of engineering, business, and social sciences. I’ve also brought in industry experts to share their insights. The goal is to show students how the concepts they learn can be applied to real-world issues.

As instructors, we need to communicate to students not just what’s covered in the courses, but also how such knowledge can contribute to a better future. This process certainly takes time, but I’m convinced that it will pay off in the end.