Have you ever passed along something you heard from a friend without verifying its truth? Or used an answer from ChatGPT without fact-checking it first?

In this episode, I delve into our instinctive trust in AI and how it mirrors our historical tendency to believe authoritative-sounding voices. From politicians and influencers to conspiracy theorists and pseudoscience, humans often prioritize compelling narratives over verified truths. AI is just the latest extension of this age-old habit.

So, why do we do this? And what does it say about us?

Sources & Further Reading:

• The Spread of True and False News Online
• Vosoughi, S., Roy, D., & Aral, S. (2018).
• This study analyzes the differential diffusion of true and false news stories on Twitter, revealing that false news spreads more rapidly and broadly than true news.
• Link to study

• The Psychology of Fake News
• Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2019).
• This research explores the cognitive mechanisms behind susceptibility to fake news, suggesting that a lack of analytical thinking contributes to the acceptance of misinformation.
• Link to study

• Reliance on Emotion Promotes Belief in Fake News
• Martel, C., Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2020).
• This study provides evidence that individuals who rely on emotional reasoning are more likely to believe and share fake news.
• Link to study

• Lazy, Not Biased: Susceptibility to Partisan Fake News Is Better Explained by Lack of Reasoning Than by Motivated Reasoning
• Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2018).
• This paper argues that susceptibility to fake news is more closely related to cognitive laziness than to partisan bias.
• Link to study

• Who Falls for Fake News? The Roles of Bullshit Receptivity, Overclaiming, Familiarity, and Analytic Thinking
• Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2019).
• This research identifies factors that contribute to belief in fake news, including a general tendency to accept weak claims and a lack of analytical thinking.
• Link to study

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