"We do not always enjoy surprises": investigating artificial serendipity in an online marketplace context.
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| Title: | "We do not always enjoy surprises": investigating artificial serendipity in an online marketplace context. |
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| Authors: | Chen, Xuanning1 (AUTHOR) xc330@cam.ac.uk, Lin, Angela1 (AUTHOR) a.lin@sheffield.ac.uk, Webber, Sheila1 (AUTHOR) s.webber@sheffield.ac.uk |
| Source: | Journal of Documentation. 2025, Vol. 81 Issue 2, p403-422. 20p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Artificial intelligence, *Behavioral assessment, Consumer behavior, Serendipity, Online marketplaces |
| Abstract: | Purpose: This study aims to gain a better understanding of artificial serendipity – pre-planned surprises intentionally crafted through deliberate designs – in online marketplaces. By exploring the key features of artificial serendipity, this study investigates whether serendipity can be intentionally designed, particularly with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The findings from this research broaden the scope of serendipity studies, making them more relevant and applicable in the context of the AI era. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative study was conducted, gathering insights from 32 Chinese online consumers through diaries and interviews. The data were analysed in close collaboration with participants, ensuring an authentic reflection of their perceptions regarding the features of artificial serendipity in online marketplaces. Findings: Findings reveal that artificial serendipity, particularly when designed by AI, is still regarded by online consumers as genuine serendipity. It provides a sense of real surprise and encourages deeper reflection on personal knowledge, affording the two central qualities of genuine serendipity: unexpectedness and valuableness. However, since artificial serendipity is pre-planned through intentional design, consumers cannot have entire control over it. Therefore, compared to natural serendipity – fortune surprises arising from accidental correspondence between individuals and contexts – artificial serendipity tends to be more surprising yet less valuable. Research limitations/implications: For research, it highlights the potential of intelligent technologies to facilitate genuine serendipity, updating our understanding of serendipity. Practical implications: Also, the study provides practical insights into designing serendipity, especially in online markets. These contributions enrich both the theoretical framework and practical strategies surrounding serendipity in the era of AI. Originality/value: This study stands out as one of the few to provide a nuanced understanding of artificial serendipity, offering valuable insights for both research and practice. For research, it highlights the potential of intelligent technologies to facilitate genuine serendipity, updating our understanding of serendipity. Also, the study provides practical insights into designing serendipity, especially in online markets. These contributions enrich both the theoretical framework and practical strategies surrounding serendipity in the era of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 183391807 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: "We do not always enjoy surprises": investigating artificial serendipity in an online marketplace context. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chen%2C+Xuanning%22">Chen, Xuanning</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> xc330@cam.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lin%2C+Angela%22">Lin, Angela</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> a.lin@sheffield.ac.uk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Webber%2C+Sheila%22">Webber, Sheila</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> s.webber@sheffield.ac.uk</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Documentation%22">Journal of Documentation</searchLink>. 2025, Vol. 81 Issue 2, p403-422. 20p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Artificial+intelligence%22">Artificial intelligence</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavioral+assessment%22">Behavioral assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Consumer+behavior%22">Consumer behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Serendipity%22">Serendipity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+marketplaces%22">Online marketplaces</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Purpose: This study aims to gain a better understanding of artificial serendipity – pre-planned surprises intentionally crafted through deliberate designs – in online marketplaces. By exploring the key features of artificial serendipity, this study investigates whether serendipity can be intentionally designed, particularly with the use of artificial intelligence (AI). The findings from this research broaden the scope of serendipity studies, making them more relevant and applicable in the context of the AI era. Design/methodology/approach: A narrative study was conducted, gathering insights from 32 Chinese online consumers through diaries and interviews. The data were analysed in close collaboration with participants, ensuring an authentic reflection of their perceptions regarding the features of artificial serendipity in online marketplaces. Findings: Findings reveal that artificial serendipity, particularly when designed by AI, is still regarded by online consumers as genuine serendipity. It provides a sense of real surprise and encourages deeper reflection on personal knowledge, affording the two central qualities of genuine serendipity: unexpectedness and valuableness. However, since artificial serendipity is pre-planned through intentional design, consumers cannot have entire control over it. Therefore, compared to natural serendipity – fortune surprises arising from accidental correspondence between individuals and contexts – artificial serendipity tends to be more surprising yet less valuable. Research limitations/implications: For research, it highlights the potential of intelligent technologies to facilitate genuine serendipity, updating our understanding of serendipity. Practical implications: Also, the study provides practical insights into designing serendipity, especially in online markets. These contributions enrich both the theoretical framework and practical strategies surrounding serendipity in the era of AI. Originality/value: This study stands out as one of the few to provide a nuanced understanding of artificial serendipity, offering valuable insights for both research and practice. For research, it highlights the potential of intelligent technologies to facilitate genuine serendipity, updating our understanding of serendipity. Also, the study provides practical insights into designing serendipity, especially in online markets. These contributions enrich both the theoretical framework and practical strategies surrounding serendipity in the era of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Documentation is the property of Emerald Publishing Limited and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1108/JD-01-2024-0011 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 20 StartPage: 403 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Artificial intelligence Type: general – SubjectFull: Behavioral assessment Type: general – SubjectFull: Consumer behavior Type: general – SubjectFull: Serendipity Type: general – SubjectFull: Online marketplaces Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: "We do not always enjoy surprises": investigating artificial serendipity in an online marketplace context. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Chen, Xuanning – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Lin, Angela – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Webber, Sheila IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 03 Text: 2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 00220418 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 81 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of Documentation Type: main |
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