{
  "id": 3596279,
  "title": "Does AI shape decisions before we do? Researcher questions what 'human in the loop' really means",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/does-ai-shape-decisions-before-we-do-researcher-questions-what-human",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-26T21:40:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-08-ai-decisions-human-loop.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "What does it mean to have a human in the loop when AI is already shaping the information behind a decision? That's the question explored by Lorien Jordan, an assistant professor in the USF College of Education. Jordan's research, published in the journal Qualitative Inquiry, challenges the simplistic notion that a human can simply intervene to ensure ethical use of AI. Even when a human retains final responsibility, Jordan argues that AI can influence the information and options presented to that human, complicating the concept of accountability. The debate between AI companies Anthropic and the U.S. Department of Defense over the use of AI technologies illustrates this issue. Jordan's study looks beyond the individual platforms, like ChatGPT and Claude, to examine the broader systems supporting AI, such as shared research techniques and infrastructure. She emphasizes that ethical considerations should focus on these broader systems rather than on isolated choices between platforms. Jordan's work aims to raise awareness about the hidden infrastructures that shape AI's impact on decision-making across various fields, from healthcare to national security.",
  "summary": "Artificial intelligence is often discussed with a simple safeguard in mind: Keep a human in the loop. But what happens when AI is already shaping the information, options and recommendations that inform a decision?",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}