Some people love AI, others hate it. Here's why.

A person's feelings about AI, whether positive or negative, are deeply connected to how their brain processes risk and trust. A primary reason for distrust is the lack of understanding of how AI systems operate, often functioning as "black boxes" where the decision-making process is hidden. This opaqueness makes people feel disempowered and leads to algorithm aversion, where individuals may even prefer flawed human judgment over algorithmic decisions, especially after witnessing an AI error. Furthermore, humans tend to anthropomorphize AI, projecting emotions and intentions onto it. When AI behaves in ways that seem too polite or eerily accurate, it can feel intrusive or manipulative, even though the AI lacks self-awareness. We are also often more forgiving of human errors than machine errors. When AI fails, especially if it's expected to be objective, the reaction is sharper, leading to a feeling of betrayal because it disrupts our expectations of logical and impartial behavior. The rapid advancement of AI also poses an existential threat for some, particularly professionals whose skills are being replicated by these tools. This can trigger an identity threat, a fear that one's expertise and uniqueness are diminishing, leading to psychological defense mechanisms like resistance or dismissal of the technology. The absence of human emotional cues in AI, such as tone or facial expressions, also contributes to distrus... download the app to read more