Discussions on how AI can improve human decision-making by providing accurate and up-to-date information and knowledge.
Human Reasoning
Reasoning is the process through which individuals use information and knowledge to make judgments, decisions and solve problems. However, it is surprising to hear people expressing opinions on topics for which they have limited information or knowledge. Questions about the Vietnam War, the JFK assassination, global warming or vaccines receive diverse responses from individuals. Further questioning will reveal that their knowledge on the subject is insignificant.
For example, some people determine that climate warming is a natural phenomenon, not caused by human activities. They argue that there were cold and warm periods in the past, volcano emissions are more significant than human emissions, or that scientists disagree on the causes. However, these arguments indicate a lack of understanding of the scientific evidence confirming that human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are the main causes of the climate warming trend.
The tendency for humans to form opinions on subjects for which they don’t have knowledge can be influenced by various perceptive, social, and environmental factors.
- Humans have a natural inclination to form opinions and make judgments, even when they lack comprehensive information. This is known as the “need for closure” and is driven by biases towards seeking certitude and avoiding uncertainty.
- Humans are exposed to information that is incomplete, biased, or misleading, which can lead them to form opinions that are erroneous. This is particularly true of information shared through social media, where misinformation can spread quickly and easily.
- Humans may rely on heuristics or mental shortcuts to form opinions without fully understanding the subject. These shortcuts can lead to biases where people look for information confirming their beliefs and ignoring information that contradicts them.
- Humans may feel pressure from their social environment to have an opinion on certain subjects, leading them to form an opinion in order to fit in with a group or conform to social norms.
AI Can Improve Human Reasoning
AI can improve human reasoning by providing accurate, up-to-date information and knowledge.
- AI can analyze large amounts of data and find patterns that would be missed.
- AI can provide recommendations and forecasts based on analyzed data, helping people making better- decisions.
- AI can automate routine tasks, allowing humans to focus on more complex and creative tasks.
- AI can identify biases in data, and prevent human decision making from being influenced by biases.
- AI can provide alternative perspectives and insights that humans may not have considered leading to new and advanced solutions.
AI can provide evidence that human activities cause global warming and present convincing data that would persuade unbiased individuals. However, biased individuals may not alter their perspective unless their underlying emotional factors influencing their opinions are acknowledged and addressed.