Why do some of us love AI, while others hate it? The answer is in how our brains perceive risk and trust

The differing human reactions to artificial intelligence, ranging from enthusiastic acceptance to strong aversion, are rooted in how individuals perceive risk and trust. This psychological response is influenced by the inherent opacity of many AI systems, which operate as "black boxes" where the decision-making process is hidden. Humans tend to trust systems they understand, and the lack of clear cause-and-effect or the inability to interrogate AI decisions can lead to unease and a feeling of disempowerment, a phenomenon known as algorithm aversion, where people may even prefer flawed human judgment over AI. Furthermore, humans tend to anthropomorphize AI, projecting human emotions and intentions onto it. When AI exhibits behaviors that seem too polite or too accurate, it can trigger suspicion of manipulation, even though the AI lacks self-awareness. This tendency to respond socially to machines, even when we know they aren't human, contributes to discomfort. A key factor in AI distrust is the differential reaction to errors: human mistakes often elicit empathy, while AI errors, especially when the system is presented as objective, can feel like betrayal, violating expectations of logical impartiality. For professionals whose work is partially replicated by AI, such as teachers or writers, the technology can provoke an identity threat, a fear that their expertise is being devalued. This can manifest as resistance or outright dismissal of AI as a psychological defense mechanism. The lack of emotional cues, such as tone or facial expressions, in AI interactions prevents the formation of trust that typically relies on such human element... download the app to read more