How Far Do Capability Cues Travel? Anthropomorphism and Differentiated Trust in a Platform-Embedded AI Assistant

Abstract

Visible AI capabilities need not translate into broader judgments of trustworthiness. In a randomized 2 x 2 experiment with 270 U.S.-based Reddit users, an embedded assistant displayed one or three functions, with or without a brief rationale. Displaying three functions increased perceived multifunctionality; no other randomized main effect survived correction across the six outcomes. Rationale availability did not reliably increase perceived intelligence. Exploratory analysis indicated stronger uptake of the functional display at higher objective AI literacy. Among concurrently measured judgments, perceived multifunctionality was associated with perceived intelligence, which was associated with anthropomorphism and all three trust dimensions. After accounting for perceived intelligence, anthropomorphism was positively associated with benevolence, but not reliably with integrity or ability. These findings separate interface effects from relationships among users' perceptions and show why ability, integrity, and benevolence should be evaluated separately.