Perceptions and expectations of an artificially intelligent physical activity digital assistant - A focus group study.

Journal: Applied psychology. Health and well-being
PMID: 39268568

Abstract

Artificially intelligent physical activity digital assistants that use the full spectrum of machine learning capabilities have not yet been developed and examined. This study aimed to explore potential users' perceptions and expectations of using such a digital assistant. Six 90-min online focus group meetings (n = 45 adults) were conducted. Meetings were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed. Participants embraced the idea of a 'digital assistant' providing physical activity support. Participants indicated they would like to receive notifications from the digital assistant, but did not agree on the number, timing, tone and content of notifications. Likewise, they indicated that the digital assistant's personality and appearance should be customisable. Participants understood the need to provide information to the digital assistant to allow for personalisation, but varied greatly in the extent of information that they were willing to provide. Privacy issues aside, participants embraced the idea of using artificial intelligence or machine learning in return for a more functional and personal digital assistant. In sum, participants were ready for an artificially intelligent physical activity digital assistant but emphasised a need to personalise or customise nearly every feature of the application. This poses challenges in terms of cost and complexity of developing the application.

Authors

  • Corneel Vandelanotte
    Central Queensl and University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Physical Activity Research Group, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia.
  • Danya Hodgetts
    Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
  • D L I H K Peris
    Department of Sport, Physical Education and Health, Faculty of Social Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
  • Ashmita Karki
    Appleton Institute, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
  • Carol Maher
    Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
  • Tasadduq Imam
    School of Business and Law, CQUniversity, Melbourne Campus, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
  • Mamunur Rashid
    Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia.
  • Quyen To
    Central Queensl and University, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Physical Activity Research Group, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia.
  • Stewart Trost
    Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation at QLD Centre for Children's Health Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 62 Graham St, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. s.trost@qut.edu.au.

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