Hajra Naz
From ChatGPT writing emails to AI diagnosing diseases and suggesting shows on Netflix, machine intelligence is now part of daily life. What was once science fiction is our new reality.
But not everyone feels the same about it. Some people love AI tools. Others feel uneasy, suspicious, or even betrayed. Why such a divide?
The answer isn’t just about how AI works. It’s about how our brains work. We tend to trust things we understand. Traditional tools make sense — you turn a key and the car starts. You press a button, and a lift comes.
AI isn’t like that. It’s a black box. You type something in, and a result appears—no visible logic in between. That missing link makes us nervous. Humans crave transparency. When we can’t see cause and effect, we feel powerless.
This is why people develop what experts call algorithm aversion — a term coined by researcher Berkeley Dietvorst. His studies showed that people often prefer flawed human judgment over algorithmic decisions, especially after seeing a single machine error.
We know AI doesn’t have emotions or motives. Yet, we still project them onto systems like ChatGPT. If it sounds “too polite,” we find it creepy. If recommendations get too accurate, it feels invasive. We suspect manipulation—even when it’s just math.
That’s anthropomorphism—assigning human-like traits to nonhuman systems. Researchers Clifford Nass and Byron Reeves showed that we respond socially to machines, even knowing they’re not alive.
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We Forgive Humans — But Not Machines
Behavioral science tells us something strange: we forgive human mistakes faster than machine ones. If a person errs, we understand. But when an AI model fails — mislabels an image or gives biased output — we feel betrayed.
This is known as expectation violation. We expect machines to be logical and perfect. When they fail, our trust drops sharply. Ironically, humans make mistakes all the time — but at least we can ask them why.
The Fear of Losing Identity
For many professionals, AI feels more than unfamiliar — it feels threatening. Teachers, lawyers, designers, and writers now face tools that replicate their skills. The fear isn’t just about automation — it’s about losing identity and purpose.
This reaction is linked to identity threat, a concept by psychologist Claude Steele. When people feel their expertise is devalued, they become defensive or resistant. Distrust of AI, in this sense, is a psychological shield.
The Emotional Gap
Trust isn’t built on logic alone. Humans rely on tone, emotion, and eye contact. AI lacks all that. Even when it sounds fluent or polite, it can’t reassure like a real person can.
This ties to the uncanny valley — a term from roboticist Masahiro Mori. It describes the eerie discomfort we feel when something seems human but isn’t. That emotional gap makes AI feel cold or deceitful.
In an age of deepfakes and algorithmic decisions, this missing human touch becomes a real problem. Not because AI acts maliciously, but because we don’t know how to emotionally respond to it.
Read More: Are Chatbots Making Us Mentally Lazy and Stupid?
Rational Distrust Is Healthy
Not all suspicion toward AI is irrational. Algorithms can reinforce bias in hiring, policing, or credit scoring. If you’ve been hurt by unfair data systems, your caution is valid; it’s learned distrust.
When systems repeatedly fail people, skepticism becomes a survival skill. Trust can’t be demanded; it must be earned. That means building transparent, explainable AI that gives users control, not just convenience.
To make people trust AI, it must feel less like a mystery box and more like a conversation we’re part of. People trust what they can see, question, and understand.
FAQs
1. Why do some people trust AI more than others?
It depends on familiarity, understanding, and personal experience. People who use AI tools often trust them more because they understand how they work.
2. What is algorithm aversion?
It’s the tendency to prefer human judgment over AI, especially after seeing an algorithm make an error.
3. Why do humans project emotions onto AI systems?
This happens due to anthropomorphism—our habit of giving human traits to machines that act or sound like us.
4. Can AI truly be trusted?
AI can be trusted when it’s transparent, explainable, and accountable. Trust grows when users can understand and question its outputs.
5. How can companies build trust in AI?
By creating ethical AI that’s clear about how it works, it avoids bias, protects data, and empowers users to make informed choices.
