Mar 13, 2019 - Technology

AI and groupthink

Kaveh Waddell

A central promise of artificial intelligence is to automate away tedious routine tasks, but a lingering worry is that it will chip away at our humanity, causing people to lean on computers to the detriment of their ability to think critically.

Catch up quick: A new survey from the PR firm Edelman, conducted last summer with 1,000 Americans, shows widespread worry around the social effects of swiftly advancing AI.

74% said "intelligent and human-like" devices will lessen the need for interactions with other people and lead to more isolation.
67% said AI increases the possibility of "digitally enhanced group think, lessening creativity and freedom of thought."
71% said AI will lead to a "dumbing down of people."

"People tend to trust the information they are presented by their digital devices, and it’s possible with AI — given the vast amounts of personal data that drive those systems — to steadily persuade individuals and entire groups to a certain point of view."

— Gary Grossman, head of Edelman's AI center

Add Axios on Google

AI and groupthink

What to read next