Utilizing Generative AI to Boost Public Support for Carbon Pricing
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We explore the potential of generative AI to increase public support for carbon pricing through a cost-effective and scalable communication intervention. In a randomized controlled online experiment, we delivered personalized AI-generated messages to US adults (N = 348), aimed at increasing awareness and support for carbon pricing policies. We tailored the messaging based on participants’ self-reported values (e.g., freedom, religion, family) and used AI-generated audio narration combined with dynamic content display to increase participant engagement. This 3-minute intervention significantly improved average attitudes towards carbon pricing with an effect size of d = 0.34, particularly among Republicans (d = 0.42). The intervention also significantly increased participants’ willingness to donate to an organization that advocates for carbon pricing policies between 14.4 and 20.4 percentage points. Our research demonstrates a proof of concept for the effectiveness of AI-driven persuasion to boost public support for sustainable policies.
