Technology acceptance of AI camera surveillance of German pig farmers

The demands placed on pig farmers within the German industry are mounting, necessitating intelligent solutions to cope with a diminishing skilled workforce and expanding tasks. One potential remedy lies in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI)-based camera systems for animal monitoring. This novel technology combines two critical components: image-based surveillance and artificial intelligence. This research delves into farmers' acceptance of such systems. A technology acceptance model (TAM) was constructed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to uncover the behavioral drivers underlying adoption intentions. Surveying 186 farmers from across all federal states of Germany, the study highlights the significance of technology simplicity, relevance to professional contexts, and personal attitudes toward AI camera systems as pivotal factors influencing acceptance. The model explained up to 74% of the total variance in acceptance is􀆩attributable to behavioral determinants.