See what you see, hear what you hear: Theorizing AI Device Embodiment (ADE) and its effects on well-being, perceived social support, and adoption
Jih‐Hsuan Tammy Lin, Huai-yu Chen, Ji-Wei Yang · Computers in Human Behavior · 2026
AI glasses share sensorimotor coupling with users and represent a form of embodied AI, marking a fundamental shift in the human–AI relationship compared with other AI devices. This study theorizes AI Device Embodiment (ADE) and develops an ADE model by validating a newly developed ADE scale. We define ADE as the perceived degree of sensorimotor coupling between an AI system embedded in AI devices and human users. A 3 (device: AI glasses, mobile phones, laptops) between-subject design experiment with 153 participants showed that users of AI glasses reported greater ADE than users of mobile phones and laptops. Indirect analyses further revealed that AI glasses increased subjective well-being, perceived social support availability, and intentions to adopt AI through higher levels of ADE. ADE captures the unique integration of AI systems with users’ perceptual and sensorimotor processes, representing a novel mechanism through which AI glasses influence user experiences.