AI is making people less confident in professionals such as doctors and teachers
By checking facts using AI, patients and students have found a response to automatic deference, and a tool that explains subjects in a more digestible format.
A recent study conducted by Use.AI reveals that 64% of people feel more confident questioning professional advice after cross-referencing it with AI. The survey polled 15,428 adults and indicated that older generations, specifically those over 45, are less likely to challenge advice from experts. The findings have sparked a growing concern among researchers, known as the "expertise recession". This term describes a decline in automatic deference to professionals who possess extensive education, expertise, and experience.
Ihor Herasymov, Co-Founder & CEO of Use.AI, suggests that AI has democratized the ability to ask better questions without requiring qualification in judging the answers. Consequently, credentials that once indicated a professional's experience and knowledge no longer guarantee that their statements should be accepted without further confirmation, often from an AI source.
The survey also discovered a significant disparity in age groups. While 70% of 18 to 34-year-olds are more comfortable challenging professional advice after verifying with an AI chatbot, only 49% of people over 45 are comfortable doing the same. Additionally, 53% of respondents use AI to scrutinize answers from experts before deciding if they agree with them. The study points to the diminishing value of professional credentials, as people now have easier access to AI that can check expert responses.
According to Herasymov, this new situation indicates a growing "gap between confidence and competence" as more individuals turn to AI for information and fact-checking.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
