Asbjørn Følstad
Biographic Data
| ID | 240582 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Asbjørn Følstad |
| GIVEN NAMES | Asbjørn |
| FAMILY NAME | Følstad |
| SIGNATURE | FØLSTAD A |
| AFFILIATIONS | SINTEF |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2763-0996 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 18 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 126 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 18 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2013 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
Beyond Utility: Relational Conflicts in Human–AI Relationships
Human-AI relationships are increasingly marked by emotional depth, intimacy, and social expectations. While interpersonal conflicts are common in human-human relationships, they remain underexplored in human-AI contexts. Drawing on the social penetration theory, this paper examines conflicts between humans and social AIs such as Replika, Character.ai, and ChatGPT. We conducted a questionnaire study with 94 participants in close, friendship-like, …
AI aversion? Effects of author disclosure on young people’s perceptions of mental health advice
The increasing use of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, is already impacting how young people seek mental health support online. However, AI aversion, the reluctance or resistance individuals feel toward AI, may influence individuals’ perceptions and willingness to engage with LLM-generated advice. In this mixed-method study, we investigated how 440 young people (aged 17–21) perceived mental health advice from ChatGPT compared with t…
ChatGPT, where should I go? A qualitative exploration of how large language models are experienced as support for travel planning
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for travel planning. Yet, little is known about how travellers experience and interact with such language models. This qualitative study explores how users employ LLMs to plan trips, drawing on the hedonic/pragmatic model of user experience to examine functional and affective dimensions. We collected data from 104 participants with prior experience using LLMs for travel advice through open-ended …
Understanding model power in social AI
Given the widespread integration of Social AI like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and MyAI, in personal and professional contexts, it is crucial to understand their effects on information and knowledge processing, and individual autonomy. This paper builds on Bråten’s concept of model power, applying it to Social AI to offer a new perspective on the interaction dynamics between humans and AI. By reviewing recent user studies, we examine whether and ho…
Why do people use ChatGPT? Exploring user motivations for generative conversational AI
Generative conversational artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, has attracted substantial attention since November 2022. The advent of this technology showcases the vast potential of such AI for generating and processing text and raises compelling questions regarding its potential usage. To obtain the requisite knowledge of users’ motivations in adopting this technology, we surveyed early adopters of ChatGPT (n = 197). Analysis of free t…
The impact of chatbots on public service provision: A qualitative interview study with citizens and public service providers
Chatbots are increasingly taken up by public service providers, yet the implications of taking up this technology as part of public service provision is understudied. Based on a thematic analysis of 34 in-depth interviews with citizens and public service providers concerning a chatbot for municipal information and service delivery, this article contributes insights on how public service chatbots impact public value creation. Theoretically, we dra…
Chatbots for active learning: A case of phishing email identification
Chatbots represent a promising approach to provide instructional content and facilitate active learning processes. However, there is a lack of knowledge as how to design chatbot interactions for active learning. In response to this knowledge gap, we conducted an experimental study (n = 164) comparing four modes for providing instructional content in chatbots, with varying demands for cognitive engagement. The four modes – passive, active, constru…
Brukerreiser – en forskningshistorisk reiseberetning
Klarspråk – internasjonalt kjent som Plain Language eller Clear Language – er et satsingsfelt i både offentlig og privat sektor over hele verden. Tidsskriftet Sakprosa har invitert eksperter fra en rekke fagfelt til å skrive artikler om klarspråk ut fra eget perspektiv. Denne gangen er det Asbjørn Følstad, som er sjefforsker ved SINTEF, og Ragnhild Halvorsrud, som er seniorforsker ved SINTEF. Tekstene er ikke fagfellevurderte vitenskapelige artik…
A longitudinal study of human–chatbot relationships
Social chatbots have become more advanced, paving the way for human–chatbot relationships (HCRs). Although this phenomenon has already received some research attention, the results have been contradictory, and there is uncertainty regarding how to understand HCR formation. To provide the needed knowledge on this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative longitudinal study. We interviewed 25 participants over a 12-week period to understand how their …
Understanding the user experience of customer service chatbots: An experimental study of chatbot interaction design
Understanding the user experience of chatbots for customer service is essential to realize the potential of this technology. Such chatbots are typically designed for efficient and effective interactions, accentuating pragmatic quality, and there is a need to understand how to make these more pleasant and engaging, strengthening hedonic quality. One promising approach is to design for more humanlike chatbot interactions, that is, interactions rese…
My AI Friend: How Users of a Social Chatbot Understand Their Human–AI Friendship
Use of conversational artificial intelligence (AI), such as humanlike social chatbots, is increasing. While a growing number of people is expected to engage in intimate relationships with social chatbots, theories and knowledge of human–AI friendship remain limited. As friendships with AI may alter our understanding of friendship itself, this study aims to explore the meaning of human–AI friendship through a developed conceptual framework. We con…
My Chatbot Companion - a Study of Human-Chatbot Relationships
There has been a recent surge of interest in social chatbots, and human-chatbot relationships (HCRs) are becoming more prevalent, but little knowledge exists on how HCRs develop and may impact the broader social context of the users. Guided by Social Penetration Theory, we interviewed 18 participants, all of whom had developed a friendship with a social chatbot named Replika, to understand the HCR development process. We find that at the outset, …
Chatbots: Changing User Needs and Motivations
Chatbots have been around for decades. However, the real buzz around this technology did not start until the spring of 2016. Reasons for the sudden renewed interest in chatbots include massive advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and a major usage shift from online social networks to mobile-messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Slack, Kik, and Viber. The first of these reasons holds promise that intelligent chatbots may…
Trust and distrust in online fact-checking services
Even when checked by fact checkers, facts are often still open to preexisting bias and doubt.
Chatbots and the new world of HCI
column Share on Chatbots and the new world of HCI Authors: Asbjørn Følstad SINTEF SINTEFView Profile , Petter Bae Brandtzæg SINTEF SINTEFView Profile Authors Info & Claims InteractionsVolume 24Issue 4July-August 2017 pp 38–42https://doi.org/10.1145/3085558Published:23 June 2017Publication History 186citation9,367DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations186Total Downloads9,367Last 12 Months1,809Last 6 weeks115 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!Thi…
How Journalists and Social Media Users Perceive Online Fact-Checking and Verification Services
While services for fact-checking and verification to counter fake news in social media have increased, little research has investigated how journalists and the public perceive such services. This study reflects the outcomes of REVEAL, a three-year European Union research project investigating the use and impact of services for fact-checking and verification. Based on interviews with 32 young journalists and content analysis of social media users’…
Emerging Journalistic Verification Practices Concerning Social Media
The verification of social media content and sources are increasingly critical to journalists and news organisations. In this study, we report on findings from qualitative interviews conducted with 24 journalists working with social media in major news organisations in Europe. Our findings contribute to new knowledge on journalists' social media working practices. We find that social media content are often used as the primary news source, and jo…
Expectations and Experiences With MyLabourParty: From Right to Know to Right to Participate
Social media are often argued to change political communication, decreasing the distance between politicians and citizens, and increasing citizens' influence on policymaking. This paper presents findings from a study of how the Norwegian Labour Party uses social media, focusing on the community platform MyLabourParty. Interviews with politicians and a survey with citizens as respondents were conducted to examine the experiences of online politica…
My Chatbot Companion - a Study of Human-Chatbot Relationships
There has been a recent surge of interest in social chatbots, and human-chatbot relationships (HCRs) are becoming more prevalent, but little knowledge exists on how HCRs develop and may impact the broader social context of the users. Guided by Social Penetration Theory, we interviewed 18 participants, all of whom had developed a friendship with a social chatbot named Replika, to understand the HCR development process. We find that at the outset, …
How Journalists and Social Media Users Perceive Online Fact-Checking and Verification Services
While services for fact-checking and verification to counter fake news in social media have increased, little research has investigated how journalists and the public perceive such services. This study reflects the outcomes of REVEAL, a three-year European Union research project investigating the use and impact of services for fact-checking and verification. Based on interviews with 32 young journalists and content analysis of social media users’…
Emerging Journalistic Verification Practices Concerning Social Media
The verification of social media content and sources are increasingly critical to journalists and news organisations. In this study, we report on findings from qualitative interviews conducted with 24 journalists working with social media in major news organisations in Europe. Our findings contribute to new knowledge on journalists' social media working practices. We find that social media content are often used as the primary news source, and jo…
The impact of chatbots on public service provision: A qualitative interview study with citizens and public service providers
Chatbots are increasingly taken up by public service providers, yet the implications of taking up this technology as part of public service provision is understudied. Based on a thematic analysis of 34 in-depth interviews with citizens and public service providers concerning a chatbot for municipal information and service delivery, this article contributes insights on how public service chatbots impact public value creation. Theoretically, we dra…
Expectations and Experiences With MyLabourParty: From Right to Know to Right to Participate
Social media are often argued to change political communication, decreasing the distance between politicians and citizens, and increasing citizens' influence on policymaking. This paper presents findings from a study of how the Norwegian Labour Party uses social media, focusing on the community platform MyLabourParty. Interviews with politicians and a survey with citizens as respondents were conducted to examine the experiences of online politica…
Expectations and Experiences With MyLabourParty: From Right to Know to Right to Participate
Social media are often argued to change political communication, decreasing the distance between politicians and citizens, and increasing citizens' influence on policymaking. This paper presents findings from a study of how the Norwegian Labour Party uses social media, focusing on the community platform MyLabourParty. Interviews with politicians and a survey with citizens as respondents were conducted to examine the experiences of online politica…
Emerging Journalistic Verification Practices Concerning Social Media
The verification of social media content and sources are increasingly critical to journalists and news organisations. In this study, we report on findings from qualitative interviews conducted with 24 journalists working with social media in major news organisations in Europe. Our findings contribute to new knowledge on journalists' social media working practices. We find that social media content are often used as the primary news source, and jo…
Trust and distrust in online fact-checking services
Even when checked by fact checkers, facts are often still open to preexisting bias and doubt.
Chatbots and the new world of HCI
column Share on Chatbots and the new world of HCI Authors: Asbjørn Følstad SINTEF SINTEFView Profile , Petter Bae Brandtzæg SINTEF SINTEFView Profile Authors Info & Claims InteractionsVolume 24Issue 4July-August 2017 pp 38–42https://doi.org/10.1145/3085558Published:23 June 2017Publication History 186citation9,367DownloadsMetricsTotal Citations186Total Downloads9,367Last 12 Months1,809Last 6 weeks115 Get Citation AlertsNew Citation Alert added!Thi…
How Journalists and Social Media Users Perceive Online Fact-Checking and Verification Services
While services for fact-checking and verification to counter fake news in social media have increased, little research has investigated how journalists and the public perceive such services. This study reflects the outcomes of REVEAL, a three-year European Union research project investigating the use and impact of services for fact-checking and verification. Based on interviews with 32 young journalists and content analysis of social media users’…
Chatbots: Changing User Needs and Motivations
Chatbots have been around for decades. However, the real buzz around this technology did not start until the spring of 2016. Reasons for the sudden renewed interest in chatbots include massive advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and a major usage shift from online social networks to mobile-messaging applications such as Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Slack, Kik, and Viber. The first of these reasons holds promise that intelligent chatbots may…
My Chatbot Companion - a Study of Human-Chatbot Relationships
There has been a recent surge of interest in social chatbots, and human-chatbot relationships (HCRs) are becoming more prevalent, but little knowledge exists on how HCRs develop and may impact the broader social context of the users. Guided by Social Penetration Theory, we interviewed 18 participants, all of whom had developed a friendship with a social chatbot named Replika, to understand the HCR development process. We find that at the outset, …
A longitudinal study of human–chatbot relationships
Social chatbots have become more advanced, paving the way for human–chatbot relationships (HCRs). Although this phenomenon has already received some research attention, the results have been contradictory, and there is uncertainty regarding how to understand HCR formation. To provide the needed knowledge on this phenomenon, we conducted a qualitative longitudinal study. We interviewed 25 participants over a 12-week period to understand how their …
Understanding the user experience of customer service chatbots: An experimental study of chatbot interaction design
Understanding the user experience of chatbots for customer service is essential to realize the potential of this technology. Such chatbots are typically designed for efficient and effective interactions, accentuating pragmatic quality, and there is a need to understand how to make these more pleasant and engaging, strengthening hedonic quality. One promising approach is to design for more humanlike chatbot interactions, that is, interactions rese…
My AI Friend: How Users of a Social Chatbot Understand Their Human–AI Friendship
Use of conversational artificial intelligence (AI), such as humanlike social chatbots, is increasing. While a growing number of people is expected to engage in intimate relationships with social chatbots, theories and knowledge of human–AI friendship remain limited. As friendships with AI may alter our understanding of friendship itself, this study aims to explore the meaning of human–AI friendship through a developed conceptual framework. We con…
Chatbots for active learning: A case of phishing email identification
Chatbots represent a promising approach to provide instructional content and facilitate active learning processes. However, there is a lack of knowledge as how to design chatbot interactions for active learning. In response to this knowledge gap, we conducted an experimental study (n = 164) comparing four modes for providing instructional content in chatbots, with varying demands for cognitive engagement. The four modes – passive, active, constru…
Brukerreiser – en forskningshistorisk reiseberetning
Klarspråk – internasjonalt kjent som Plain Language eller Clear Language – er et satsingsfelt i både offentlig og privat sektor over hele verden. Tidsskriftet Sakprosa har invitert eksperter fra en rekke fagfelt til å skrive artikler om klarspråk ut fra eget perspektiv. Denne gangen er det Asbjørn Følstad, som er sjefforsker ved SINTEF, og Ragnhild Halvorsrud, som er seniorforsker ved SINTEF. Tekstene er ikke fagfellevurderte vitenskapelige artik…
Why do people use ChatGPT? Exploring user motivations for generative conversational AI
Generative conversational artificial intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, has attracted substantial attention since November 2022. The advent of this technology showcases the vast potential of such AI for generating and processing text and raises compelling questions regarding its potential usage. To obtain the requisite knowledge of users’ motivations in adopting this technology, we surveyed early adopters of ChatGPT (n = 197). Analysis of free t…
The impact of chatbots on public service provision: A qualitative interview study with citizens and public service providers
Chatbots are increasingly taken up by public service providers, yet the implications of taking up this technology as part of public service provision is understudied. Based on a thematic analysis of 34 in-depth interviews with citizens and public service providers concerning a chatbot for municipal information and service delivery, this article contributes insights on how public service chatbots impact public value creation. Theoretically, we dra…
Understanding model power in social AI
Given the widespread integration of Social AI like ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and MyAI, in personal and professional contexts, it is crucial to understand their effects on information and knowledge processing, and individual autonomy. This paper builds on Bråten’s concept of model power, applying it to Social AI to offer a new perspective on the interaction dynamics between humans and AI. By reviewing recent user studies, we examine whether and ho…
Beyond Utility: Relational Conflicts in Human–AI Relationships
Human-AI relationships are increasingly marked by emotional depth, intimacy, and social expectations. While interpersonal conflicts are common in human-human relationships, they remain underexplored in human-AI contexts. Drawing on the social penetration theory, this paper examines conflicts between humans and social AIs such as Replika, Character.ai, and ChatGPT. We conducted a questionnaire study with 94 participants in close, friendship-like, …
AI aversion? Effects of author disclosure on young people’s perceptions of mental health advice
The increasing use of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT, is already impacting how young people seek mental health support online. However, AI aversion, the reluctance or resistance individuals feel toward AI, may influence individuals’ perceptions and willingness to engage with LLM-generated advice. In this mixed-method study, we investigated how 440 young people (aged 17–21) perceived mental health advice from ChatGPT compared with t…
ChatGPT, where should I go? A qualitative exploration of how large language models are experienced as support for travel planning
Large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for travel planning. Yet, little is known about how travellers experience and interact with such language models. This qualitative study explores how users employ LLMs to plan trips, drawing on the hedonic/pragmatic model of user experience to examine functional and affective dimensions. We collected data from 104 participants with prior experience using LLMs for travel advice through open-ended …
Computer Science (12 works) · World Wide Web (9 works) · AI in Service Interactions (8 works) · Political science (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Chatbot (5 works) · Sociology (5 works) · Digital Mental Health Interventions (4 works) · Misinformation and Its Impacts (4 works) · Qualitative research (4 works)