Impact of video-mediated online social presence and observance on cognitive performance.

The onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted most world toward remote working and education. As continues to embrace virtual communication in post-COVID-19 era, it is crucial investigate impacts online social copresence on cognitive performance. present study investigated how videoconference presence a companion affects participants performance relational-reasoning tasks. was either attentive participant, but nonattentive, or absent. We manipulated agency companion, who real human, an avatar controlled by artificial intelligence (AI)-controlled agent. hypothesized that mere observance participants’ performance, would influence results were broadly line with our hypothesis improved irrespective their agency. However, direction did not support prediction. find systematic impact supporting second hypothesis. Participants performed best overall AI-controlled agent, next worst real-human companion. also observed more accurately when faster participants, compared alone. conclude regardless observance, temporarily enhances discuss implications these findings.