BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//132.216.98.100//NONSGML kigkonsult.se iCalcreator 2.20.4// BEGIN:VEVENT UID:20251117T121618EST-5246ovbcc5@132.216.98.100 DTSTAMP:20251117T171618Z DESCRIPTION:Stefano Puntoni\n\nThe Wharton School\, University of Pennsylva nia\n\nThe Nicknaming Effect: How to Regain Control Over Autonomous Produc ts\n\nDate: Friday\, November 21\, 2025\n Time: 10:30 am-12:00 pm EST\n Loca tion: Bronfman building\, room 046\n\nAll are cordially invited to attend. \n\n\nAbstract:\n\nAdvances in artificial intelligence and robotics boost the development of various physical and digital autonomous products. A key adoption barrier is consumers’ perceived loss of control as autonomous pr oducts increasingly take over tasks and decisions. Integrating research in psychology and sociology with consumer research on new technologies\, thi s research proposes nicknaming (e.g.\, calling a robot vacuum “Robbie”) as a remedy to regain control\, which translates into enhanced attitudes tow ard the product. A field study and web-scraped reviews demonstrate that su ch “consumer-created nicknaming” is positively associated with attitudes. Six preregistered experiments support the hypothesized causality and show that nicknaming can indeed counter a loss of control\, while also triggeri ng other mechanisms. Crucially\, from a managerial standpoint\, “consumer- selected nicknaming” (consumers select from a predefined list of nicknames ) yields similar benefits\, while “company-created nicknaming” (companies assign a nickname) does not. In line with a control account\, the nicknami ng effect is mitigated for nicknames signaling high (e.g.\, “Boss”) versus low power (e.g.\, “Assistant”). These findings contribute to consumer res earch on new technologies and nicknaming\, with practical implications for the marketing of autonomous products.\n DTSTART:20251121T153000Z DTEND:20251121T170000Z LOCATION:Room 046\, Bronfman Building\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3A 1G5\, 1001 rue Sherbrooke Ouest SUMMARY:91 Institute of Marketing (MIM) Seminar: Stefano Puntoni URL:/desautels/channels/event/mcgill-institute-marketi ng-mim-seminar-stefano-puntoni-368913 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR