Human–Automation Trust to Technologies for Naïve Users Amidst and Following the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective and background Trust is a critical factor that influences the success or failure of human–automation interaction in a variety of professional domains such as transportation, military, and healthcare. The unprecedented COVID-19 crisis will likely accelerate the implementation of automation and create unique problems involving human–automation trust for naïve users of automated technologies in the future. Method We briefly review factors that can influence the development of human–automation trust amidst and following the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on two theories on human-automation trust and how naïve users develop and maintain their trust in unfamiliar technologies. Results The current review identifies user workload and perceived risk as critical factors that will impact human–automation trust during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both theories predict that it is important for naïve users to accumulate and analyze behavioral evidence of automated technologies to maintain appropriate trust levels as the pandemic progresses. Conclusion and application Theories of human–automation trust inform trajectories of trust development toward unfamiliar technologies for naïve users. In application, manufacturers and distributers should focus on communicating system information effectively to retain users who may be “forced” to use unfamiliar technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic.