## 5 Discussion  
This study investigated how cultural differences shape the acceptance of ARSGs, focusing on how privacy concerns interact with the TAM variables across the U.S. and South Korea. The central and most intriguing finding was that despite higher levels of privacy concerns, South Korean participants showed stronger intentions to adopt ARSGs than their American counterparts. In both countries, privacy concerns were high, consistent with prior research that emphasizes public discomfort with surveillance technologies [47; 48]. However, privacy concerns had a stronger negative influence on American users' attitudes toward ARSGs. This suggests that privacy apprehensions in the U.S. may act as a psychological barrier, dampening positive attitudes and lowering behavioral intentions. Americans' concerns may reflect deep-rooted cultural fears of surveillance and data misuse, where privacy violations are seen as significant threats to individual autonomy [15]. Conversely, the South Korean sample revealed a surprising paradox. While Koreans reported higher privacy concerns than Americans, these concerns had only a marginal negative effect on their attitudes and no direct influence on their behavioral intentions. This finding aligns with cultural frameworks emphasizing collectivism and social harmony in East Asian societies [15]. In collectivist cultures like South Korea, technology adoption may be strongly influenced by social expectations, group conformity, and perceived societal benefits. Koreans may be willing to tolerate privacy trade-offs if the technology provides functional, social, or economic benefits that serve collective goals. Thus, privacy concerns do not automatically translate into technology rejection but are instead weighed against perceived usefulness and societal value. This phenomenon can be explained through the distinction between the \"innovation effect\" and the \"imitation effect\" described by [PERSON] et al. [40]. In individualistic cultures like the U.S., technology adoption is often driven by individual assessments of usefulness and ease of use--the innovation effect. In contrast, collectivist cultures like South Korea often rely on social norms and collective endorsements--the imitation effect. For Korean users, witnessing peers adopt ARSGs or perceiving these technologies as socially acceptable may override personal privacy concerns. Another factor is Korea's strong technological optimism. South Korea is one of the most digitally connected societies globally, with widespread acceptance of emerging technologies. This environment fosters a mindset where technology is seen as essential for social participation, productivity, and national competitiveness. As such, even technologies that present potential privacy threats, such as ARSGs, are more easily integrated into daily life when framed as advancing societal progress [42]. Legal and regulatory differences may also contribute to the divergent patterns. In South Korea, strict legal frameworks regulate recording and data collection, providing individuals with greater confidence that their privacy will be protected even when adopting potentially invasive technologies [31; 33]. In contrast, the U.S. has fewer restrictions on public recording, placing a heavier burden on individuals to protect their privacy. Thisdifference may explain why privacy concerns play a more significant role in undermining U.S. users' attitudes toward ARSGs. Interestingly, perceived usefulness consistently emerged as a powerful predictor of both attitudes and behavioral intention across both cultures, confirming the TAM's foundational assumption [35]. Even when privacy concerns existed, functional benefits helped to sustain adoption intentions, especially in South Korea. This suggests that for Korean users, the perception that ARSGs can enhance productivity, efficiency, or communication may outweigh personal discomfort related to privacy.