There was a time when decision-making in society meant seeking the advice of an experienced person. But times have changed, and so have our advisors. Now, in many cases, we rely on artificial intelligence or AI. The question is—are we perhaps relying a bit too much on this machine-driven advisor?
A Player, an Advice, and a Wrong Decision
A study from Martin Luther University in Europe brought up such an example. A player was playing a game where he had the opportunity to double his invested money—the only condition was to trust the other player. He had information from the previous three rounds, all showing repeated deception by his opponent. Yet, since the AI said “Trust,” he followed that advice. The result—he lost everything.
What Does Research Say?
In a 2024 study published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior by Klingbeil et al., it was found that when people know advice comes from an AI, they tend to rely on it more—even if it conflicts with their own reasoning or evidence. The study used a modified “trust game,” where some participants received AI-generated advice, while others got advice from a human “expert.” The results were clear—AI’s advice had a much greater influence.
What Happened in Real-Life Examples?
One player, after analyzing his opponent’s previous decisions, thought—the opponent might cheat again. But when the AI advised “Trust,” he set aside his own judgment and took the risk. The result? He lost his money, and the cheating player benefited.
What Are Experts Saying?
German researcher Dr. Arthur Klingbeil says,
“People often assume, since it’s AI, it won’t make mistakes. But this belief can often be inappropriate and even harmful.”
Psychologist Dr. Cassandra Grutzner adds,
“Trust and reliance—these are two different concepts. A person may trust, but that doesn’t mean they will rely. Our research shows, in the case of AI, this distinction almost disappears.”
Does Everyone Rely on AI the Same Way?
No. Some people are very enthusiastic about technology, while others are risk-averse. The research shows that those with higher ‘trust propensity’ actually rely a bit less on AI. However, in general, just the ‘AI-generated’ tag alone significantly influences many people’s decisions.
Where Is the Deeper Problem?
This overreliance not only harms users themselves, but also affects third parties. For example: if a bank wrongly denies someone a loan based on an AI assessment, that person is unfairly deprived. On a societal level, this is a profound problem.
Conclusion: Technology Should Be an Assistant, Not a Leader
This research makes it clear—blind reliance on AI leads to trouble. What we need is ‘AI Literacy’—which enables us to understand when advice can be accepted, and when we need to question its reasoning.
AI is certainly beneficial, but it’s not an all-knowing deity—it’s simply a tool. If we fail to understand its proper use, it won’t be under our control; rather, we’ll be controlled by it.
Special Advice:
It’s natural to be curious about new technology. But don’t let that override your logic. Remember, humans can make mistakes—but machines can make them even more indiscriminately, because they lack human judgment.
Reference:
Klingbeil, A., Grutzner, C., & Schreck, F. (2024). Trust and reliance on AI: An experimental study on the extent and costs of overreliance on AI, Computers in Human Behavior, 160. Elsevier.
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