Examining human reliance on artificial intelligence in decision making
Jo Pearson; Itiel E. Dror; Emma Jayes; Grace-Rose Whordley; Georgina Mason; Sophie J. Nightingale · 2026 · Scientific Reports
WASTE classifies this as Negative / Null Result Report · AI classification, approximate
The study found no significant effect — useful as a negative control or null benchmark for your own design.
Abstract
The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to effectively support human decision making depends on whether humans are willing to trust in, and thus rely on, AI. Understanding human reliance on AI is critical given controversial reports of AI inaccuracy and bias. Furthermore, the erroneous belief that using technology removes biases may lead to overreliance on AI. To examine humans’ reliance on AI, human participants (N = 295, Mage = 33.79) judged the authenticity of 80 faces (40 real, 40 AI-synthesized) presented alongside guidance supposedly from humans or from AI. This guidance was correct only
Abstract by Jo Pearson; Itiel E. Dror; Emma Jayes; Grace-Rose Whordley; Georgina Mason; Sophie J. Nightingale, Scientific Reports (2026) — licensed CC BY 4.0.
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Metadata source: OpenAlex · DOI 10.1038/s41598-026-34983-y