Note: This episode was recorded when this show was known as Human Internet Theory.

The internet is quickly filling up with AI-generated content, including marketing that uses realistic AI avatars. Avatars, digital humans, can look and sound realistic and not have bad hair like me. In this episode, I explore the complex psychology of trust in the age of AI which gets into some of the hidden costs involved in using avatars and generated content.

I end the episode with three practical ways you can adjust your content in this new era by leaning into your humanity to build trust.

These episodes are recorded as a video. You can find the videos here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@humaninternettheory

Resources Mentioned:

1. Masahiro Mori's original essay on the Uncanny Valley (accepted translation): https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-uncanny-valley
2. The 2018 study on the Uncanny Valley: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29704523/
3. Elliot Aronson's 1966 study on the Pratfall Effect: https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/BF03342263
4. Social comparison study related to Pratfall effect: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2010-04558-004
5. MarTech article on the AI trust gap: https://martech.org/marketers-turn-to-ai-for-speed-while-consumers-turn-away-in-distrust/
6. Paper on deception in computer-mediated communication: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313859197_Deception_in_computer-mediated_communication
7. Human Internet Theory newsletter and free worksheet: https://humaninternettheory.com
8. Episode on improv and the self-critic: https://stereoforest.com/episodes/a-3-step-system-for-managing-self-criticism-in-improv/

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About and Support

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Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.

Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com

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About Jen

Host: Jen deHaan has a background of almost 30 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance.

Jen's website: https://jendehaan.com

Made and produced by Jen deHaan in British Columbia, Canada.

Mentioned in this episode:

Podcast Performance Lab

This episode was released prior to the rebranding of this podcast. It was known as Human Internet Theory and is now known as Podcast Performance Lab.