Xiaojiayu Tan
Papers
1
Total Citations
2
H-Index
1
About
Xiaojiayu Tan’s research lies at the intersection of behavioral genetics, evolutionary psychology, and human–technology interaction, probing why people differ so dramatically in their acceptance of artificial intelligence. In her most-cited work, “Born to Fear the Machine? Genetic and Environmental Influences on Negative Attitudes toward AI Agents” (2025), Tan challenges the prevailing assumption that attitudes toward AI are shaped solely by environment. Instead, she demonstrates that genetic factors significantly influence negative attitudes toward AI agents, suggesting that our evolutionary heritage—including inherited predispositions toward threat detection—plays a crucial role in shaping modern technological skepticism. This groundbreaking study, already garnering 2 citations in its first year, opens a new frontier for understanding public resistance to AI. By bridging twin-study methodology with evolutionary psychology, Tan provides a novel framework for predicting and addressing technology aversion. Her work has important implications for AI deployment, policy design, and human–robot interaction, offering a more nuanced view of why some individuals “fear the machine” while others embrace it. Tan’s research is essential reading for anyone interested in the deep roots of human attitudes toward emerging technologies.
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Top Papers
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