The Role of Utilitarian vs. Hedonic Factors for the Adoption of AI-based Smart Speakers

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple Home Pod are designed to facilitate the everyday lives of their owners and constantly gaining importance. However, to date, little is known how the service promises of smart speakers, e.g., pleasure-oriented services versus productivity-oriented services, affect individuals’ acceptance and use of smart speakers. To shed light on this issue, we conducted a qualitative study, including a trial phase, with Amazon’s Echo Dot. We provide a model of enablers and inhibitors for the acceptance of smart speakers. Our results reveal that the identified constructs can be combined into eight factors, which are directly influencing the intention to use smart speakers. Among those are perceived usefulness and perceived enjoyment which differentially affect the intention to use smart speakers. Our results provide implications for both practitioners and researchers and are intended as starting point for future research on the acceptance of smart speakers.