Smart voice assistants (SVAs) have emerged as new artificial intelligence service platforms. They have the capacity to act like actual human assistants and modify traditional forms of human–computer interactions. So, consumers relate to their SVA as though it was a person, despite knowing that they are interacting with a machine. Based on the stimulus‐organism‐response framework, this paper examines feelings of love that consumers develop for SVAs when they are interacting. It proposes that these feelings act as the psychological mechanism to transmit the effect of consumers' experiences with the technology (i.e., smart experiences) on their service loyalty. Feelings of love are conceptualized following the triangular theory of love that considers three components: passion, intimacy, and commitment. Service loyalty refers to consumers' intentions to continue using SVAs in the future and to recommend SVAs to other people through physical and/or electronic word of mouth communication. The results show that smart experiences influence consumers' passion for technology, while passion explains their intimacy and commitment. Consumer intimacy and commitment for SVAs lead to service loyalty. Therefore, this paper contributes to research focusing on the importance of consumers' feelings for SVAs and shedding light on the process that drives to service loyalty.

Purpose This study aims to examine users’ affective relationships with smart voice assistants (SVAs) and aims to analyze how these relationships explain user engagement behaviors toward the brands of SVAs. Drawing on relational cohesion theory, it proposes that cohesion between users and SVAs influences brand engagement behaviors, that is, continuing purchasing other products of the brand, providing knowledge to the brand and referring the brand. Design/methodology/approach Data from a survey of 717 US regular SVA users confirm the validity of the measurement scales and provide the input for the covariance-based structural equation modeling. Findings The results demonstrate that frequent user-SVA interactions evoke positive emotions, which encourage cohesive relationships. Pleasured-satisfaction and interest emerge as strong emotions. Moreover, relational cohesion between users and SVAs promotes engagement with the brand of the assistant. Originality/value This paper applies an interpersonal approach in a context that, to date, has been examined from a predominantly technological perspective. It shows that users develop positive emotions toward smart technologies through their interactions, and establishes the importance of building affective relationships. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyze cohesion between users and smart technologies and to examine the effect of this cohesion on user engagement with the brand.

No abstract

The present study is theoretical analysis on the influence that cultural distance (CD) may possess on the process of internationalization of companies, and country cost representing this variable; comparing the arguments of the transaction cost theory and the organizational capability theory, with the purpose of determining which form of foreign direct investment (FDI) is most appropriate when companies are directed to culturally distant countries. Two types of FDI strategies are discussed in this study: a WOS (Wholly Owned Subsidiary), for companies wishing to expand their business into culturally distant countries, but with a lower risk; and an IJV (International Joint Venture), for companies wishing to expand their business into culturally distant countries, but with a higher risk to the company. This study describes two opposing positions attempting to converge when a moderator variable is included: country risk. Thus, we shall look to build a thorough model of analysis, where the earlier theories are complemented to explain the entrepreneurial performance following various scenarios, in which the involved variables are, concurrently, the cultural distance and country risk.