Time is shrinking in the eye of AI : AI agents influence intertemporal choice

Yuanyuan Jamie LI; Shan LIN; Han GONG; Xiang WANG; Chris JANISZEWSKI

doi:10.1002/jcpy.1455

Time is shrinking in the eye of AI : AI agents influence intertemporal choice

Yuanyuan Jamie LI
, Shan LIN
, Han GONG^*
, Xiang WANG
, Chris JANISZEWSKI

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Marketing and International Business

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Agents help consumers make decisions. While agents have traditionally been human (e.g., sales associate, real estate agent, financial advisor), artificial intelligence (AI) agents are becoming more prevalent. We find that the type of agent, AI versus human, has an influence on intertemporal judgment. Specifically, when an agent is identified as AI, the concept of fast processing becomes more accessible, which makes time delays seem subjectively longer and encourages impatient behavior. These results have implications for how to conceptualize the influence of AI agents on judgment, the impact of time perception on intertemporal choices, and the sources of impatient behavior.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	59-77
Number of pages	19
Journal	Journal of Consumer Psychology
Volume	36
Issue number	1
Early online date	8 Apr 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1455
Publication status	Published - Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Society for Consumer Psychology.

Funding

This project was partially supported by Shenzhen Humanities & Social Sciences Key Research Bases granted to Yuanyuan Li, funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China granted to Han Gong (#72172080, #72394394), and supported by the Faculty Research Grant from Lingnan University granted to Xiang Wang (DB24B5). We thank Kali McFadden and LendingTree for providing the data used in study 6.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

intertemporal choice
judgment and decision making
preference and choice
time perception

Access to Document

10.1002/jcpy.1455

Cite this

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title = "Time is shrinking in the eye of AI : AI agents influence intertemporal choice",

abstract = "Agents help consumers make decisions. While agents have traditionally been human (e.g., sales associate, real estate agent, financial advisor), artificial intelligence (AI) agents are becoming more prevalent. We find that the type of agent, AI versus human, has an influence on intertemporal judgment. Specifically, when an agent is identified as AI, the concept of fast processing becomes more accessible, which makes time delays seem subjectively longer and encourages impatient behavior. These results have implications for how to conceptualize the influence of AI agents on judgment, the impact of time perception on intertemporal choices, and the sources of impatient behavior.",

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AU - GONG, Han

AU - WANG, Xiang

AU - JANISZEWSKI, Chris

PY - 2026/1

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N2 - Agents help consumers make decisions. While agents have traditionally been human (e.g., sales associate, real estate agent, financial advisor), artificial intelligence (AI) agents are becoming more prevalent. We find that the type of agent, AI versus human, has an influence on intertemporal judgment. Specifically, when an agent is identified as AI, the concept of fast processing becomes more accessible, which makes time delays seem subjectively longer and encourages impatient behavior. These results have implications for how to conceptualize the influence of AI agents on judgment, the impact of time perception on intertemporal choices, and the sources of impatient behavior.

AB - Agents help consumers make decisions. While agents have traditionally been human (e.g., sales associate, real estate agent, financial advisor), artificial intelligence (AI) agents are becoming more prevalent. We find that the type of agent, AI versus human, has an influence on intertemporal judgment. Specifically, when an agent is identified as AI, the concept of fast processing becomes more accessible, which makes time delays seem subjectively longer and encourages impatient behavior. These results have implications for how to conceptualize the influence of AI agents on judgment, the impact of time perception on intertemporal choices, and the sources of impatient behavior.

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KW - time perception

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Time is shrinking in the eye of AI : AI agents influence intertemporal choice

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Impatience

Cite this

Time is shrinking in the eye of AI : AI agents influence intertemporal choice

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Artificial Intelligence and Consumer Impatience

Cite this