Autores
Resumo(s)
A crescente integração de tecnologias de inteligência artificial no marketing digital tem
vindo a transformar profundamente a forma como as marcas comunicam com os
consumidores. No contexto do setor hoteleiro, onde a decisão de reserva ocorre
maioritariamente com base em informação disponível online, a utilização de imagens
geradas por inteligência artificial nas redes sociais levanta novas questões sobre a forma
como os consumidores percecionam e avaliam esses conteúdos. Este estudo analisa o
impacto do tipo de conteúdo visual, imagem real versus imagem gerada por inteligência
artificial, nas perceções e comportamentos dos consumidores, nomeadamente ao nível da
autenticidade visual, da confiança, da satisfação e da intenção de reserva. A metodologia
adotada foi de natureza quantitativa, com recurso a um design experimental do tipo A/B.
Foi desenvolvido um questionário estruturado, distribuído online, no qual os participantes
foram expostos a uma publicação de redes sociais de um hotel contendo, consoante a
condição experimental, uma imagem real ou uma imagem gerada por inteligência
artificial. Os dados recolhidos junto de 318 participantes foram analisados com recurso à
Modelação de Equações Estruturais pelo método PLS-SEM. Os resultados descritivos
demonstram que a imagem real obteve avaliações mais favoráveis nas quatro dimensões
analisadas. No modelo estrutural, a autenticidade percebida influenciou positivamente a
satisfação e a confiança em ambas as condições experimentais, mas não exerceu um efeito
direto estatisticamente significativo sobre a intenção de reserva em nenhuma delas. Por
sua vez, a satisfação e a confiança apresentaram efeitos positivos e significativos sobre a
intenção de reserva. O padrão de relações observado é compatível com a possibilidade de
a autenticidade exercer efeitos indiretos sobre a intenção de reserva, embora a
confirmação deste mecanismo exija uma análise específica dos efeitos indiretos.
The growing integration of artificial intelligence technologies into digital marketing has been profoundly transforming the way brands communicate with consumers. In the context of the hospitality industry, where booking decisions are largely based on information available online, the use of AI-generated images on social media raises new questions about how consumers perceive and evaluate such content. This study analyzes the impact of the type of visual content — a real images versus an AI-generated images —on consumer perceptions and behaviours, specifically in terms of visual authenticity, trust, satisfaction, and booking intention. The methodology employed was quantitative, utilizing an A/B experimental design. A structured questionnaire was developed and distributed online, in which participants were exposed to a social media post from a hotel containing, depending on the experimental condition, either a real image or an AIgenerated image. The data collected from 318 participants were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling via the PLS-SEM method. The descriptive results show that the real image received more favourable ratings across the four dimensions analysed. In the structural model, perceived authenticity positively influenced satisfaction and trust in both experimental conditions but did not have a statistically significant direct effect on booking intention in either condition. In turn, satisfaction and trust had positive and significant effects on booking intention. The observed pattern of relationships is consistent with the possibility that authenticity exerts indirect effects on booking intention, although confirmation of this mechanism requires a specific analysis of indirect effects.
The growing integration of artificial intelligence technologies into digital marketing has been profoundly transforming the way brands communicate with consumers. In the context of the hospitality industry, where booking decisions are largely based on information available online, the use of AI-generated images on social media raises new questions about how consumers perceive and evaluate such content. This study analyzes the impact of the type of visual content — a real images versus an AI-generated images —on consumer perceptions and behaviours, specifically in terms of visual authenticity, trust, satisfaction, and booking intention. The methodology employed was quantitative, utilizing an A/B experimental design. A structured questionnaire was developed and distributed online, in which participants were exposed to a social media post from a hotel containing, depending on the experimental condition, either a real image or an AIgenerated image. The data collected from 318 participants were analysed using Structural Equation Modelling via the PLS-SEM method. The descriptive results show that the real image received more favourable ratings across the four dimensions analysed. In the structural model, perceived authenticity positively influenced satisfaction and trust in both experimental conditions but did not have a statistically significant direct effect on booking intention in either condition. In turn, satisfaction and trust had positive and significant effects on booking intention. The observed pattern of relationships is consistent with the possibility that authenticity exerts indirect effects on booking intention, although confirmation of this mechanism requires a specific analysis of indirect effects.
Descrição
Palavras-chave
Inteligência Artificial Generativa Autenticidade Visual Confiança Satisfação Intenção de Reserva Setor Hoteleiro Marketing Digital Redes Sociais. Generative Artificial Intelligence Visual Authenticity Trust Satisfaction Booking Intention Hotel sector Digital marketing Social media
