Charting the Unseen: A Systematic Review of Risk Perception in Emerging Technologies

Various emerging technologies are attracting great attention and discussion these days, such as mixed reality headsets and ChatGPT. However, the associated risk perceptions remain underexplored, posing potential barriers to public acceptance and adoption. This study aims to systematically review the current research state on risk perception in the context of emerging technologies. A total of 403 articles were selected and analyzed to identify publication trends and key research themes. The analysis reveals a surge in scholarly interest from 2020 onwards, with AI technology being the predominant focus of risk perception research. Key themes encompass the characteristics of technological risk perception, including its manifestations, determinants, and dimensions. It further examines the interaction between risk perception and emerging technologies. Based on the findings, research gaps and future research directions are proposed. This review advances the psychological understanding of emerging technologies by synthesizing fragmented research on risk perception. It will support the development of practical strategies for effective risk communication and responsible technology deployment.