Purpose: This study examines the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) companions on users' social well-being by integrating the Triangular Theory of Love and Attachment Theory. Specifically, this study explores how the three components of love (including intimacy, passion and commitment) shape users' attachment (interactive engagement, emotional attachment, emotional trust) toward AI companions and how attachment, in turn, impacts social well-being. The study also investigates the moderating role of sweet deception in these relationships. Design/methodology/approach: An online survey was conducted with 527 users of AI companion apps, recruited through a panel service provided by a marketing agency. The proposed path relationships in the conceptual framework were analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0. Findings: The results show that the three components of love significantly impact users' attachment and both interactive and emotional attachment subsequently influence social well-being. Additionally, sweet deception was found to strengthen the relationships between interactive engagement and social well-being, as well as that between emotional attachment and social well-being. Originality/value: This study makes a unique contribution to the literature by empirically examining how human–AI companion relationships impact users’ social well-being. Specifically, it introduces the novel concept of sweet deception – the strategic use of affectionate yet deceptive communications to foster emotional bonds – and empirically test its role in strengthening the relationship between users’ emotional attachment and social well-being. By integrating Triangular Theory of Love and Attachment Theory, this study offers a new theoretical framework for understanding the emotional dynamics of human–AI interactions. Moreover, this study provides innovative practical insights for businesses on designing emotionally engaging AI companions that promote user well-being.

Purpose: This study addresses the remarkable research gap in the existing literature on Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (ChatGPT), which has primarily explored its functional benefits rather than the psychological states of its users. By integrating the self-concept theory and functional theory of attitudes, this study develops a moderated-mediating model to examine the impact of the bandwagon effect on users’ habit formation and subsequent feelings of pride associated with the ChatGPT application.Design/methodology/approach: This study analyzed self-reported survey data from 568 respondents from mainland China using partial least squares structural equation modeling.Findings: The findings reveal that the bandwagon effect indirectly influences users’ pride through the formation of habits related to ChatGPT applications. This study also identifies the boundary condition of social-adjustive attitude, which strengthens both the direct relationship between the bandwagon effect and habit formation and its indirect relationship with pride.Originality/value: This study contributes to the field by offering a novel perspective on ChatGPT adoption, highlighting the role of self-concept and attitudinal functions in driving users’ intentions to utilize the technology, with a focus on the desire for pride as a motivating factor.

This study investigates the impact of augmented reality (AR) characteristics on purchase intention in the context of furniture e-commerce, employing the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework. Using a convenience sampling method, data were gathered from 202 respondents in Hong Kong. A quantitative approach utilizing partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze the relationships among the constructs. The findings reveal that all AR characteristics—interactivity, informativeness, novelty, and aesthetics—significantly enhance hedonic value, while only interactivity and informativeness influence utilitarian value. Interestingly, novelty and aesthetics showed no significant effect on utilitarian value. Both hedonic and utilitarian values were found to have a positive impact on satisfaction and attitude, which, in turn, strongly influenced purchase intention. This study provides valuable theoretical and practical implications. For practitioners, the results underline the importance of leveraging AR features to enhance customer experience by focusing on interactivity and informativeness to drive both emotional engagement and functional utility. Additionally, recommendations are offered for furniture e-commerce businesses aiming to integrate AR into their platforms to improve customer satisfaction, foster positive attitudes, and ultimately boost purchase intention.

Background: The healthcare system of Hong Kong is facing a growing burden arising from chronic diseases and patient demands because of the rapid ageing and healthcare workforce shortage. Primary care is widely recognised as the most cost-effective way in improving health of the people. This study aimed to understand how older adults’ experiences of primary care in Hong Kong may impact the service utilisation and revisit intention of primary care services. Methods: This correlational study used a combination of cluster, purposive, and snowball sampling methods and collected 573 valid responses from Hong Kong residents aged 60 years or above. A modified version of the Primary Care Assessment Tool Chinese Version (PCAT-C), requiring an estimated 15 min to complete, was used to measure the perceived service quality, satisfaction, trust, and revisit intention. Data collections were performed between March 2025 and November 2025. A partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was performed in the statistical software SmartPLS 4.0 to test the relationships of various variables. Results: By analysing the 573 valid samples (M_age: 74.2, SD: 7.3; female: 80.5%) from the 607 total collected responses, ongoing care was revealed as the most influential PCAT factor in both older adults’ perceived service quality (β = 0.368; p < 0.0001) and satisfaction (β = 0.189; p < 0.0001), while trust (β = 0.265; p < 0.0001) and perceived service quality (β = 0.195, p = 0.001) were found to have positively contributed to older adults’ intention to revisit primary care services among the respective relationships among perceived service quality, satisfaction, and trust towards revisit intention. Conclusions: To enhance the utilisation of primary care among older adults, it is vital to improve their trust, perceived service quality, and satisfaction with primary care providers. One promising way to achieve this goal is to improve ongoing quality of care and people-centred care at the primary care level.