Externalized Risk Management in AI-Based Video Games: Evidence from Caregivers for Human Centered System Design

Abstract

Video games based on artificial intelligence pose significant challenges for risk management in socio-technical systems, especially when the system design shifts control, monitoring, and decision-making functions to end users. This study analyzes parental mediation as an externalized risk management mechanism, examining how the design of AI-based video games distributes responsibility among technical controls, human intervention, and balanced use strategies. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used with a sample of 309 caregivers. Based on a structured instrument, system-level indicators were constructed to identify patterns of design externalization. The analysis included descriptive statistics, robust comparison tests, and effect size estimates to assess the stability of these patterns across contextual variables in the usage environment. The results indicate that design outsourcing patterns remain consistent regardless of family environment characteristics. Additionally, a substantial proportion of participants were unable to identify the type of video game used, suggesting a gap between the stated control mechanisms and the actual visibility of the system's operation. The findings reveal a uniform design logic that externalizes risk management to users, underscoring the need for human centered design approaches that increase the visibility, interpretability, and governance of algorithmic risks in AI-based video games.