Use of AI: placebo effect increases willingness to take risks

2023-05-23 08:22:20

Munich (ots) – “Human Augmentation Technologies” are technologies that improve human abilities. These include, for example, exoskeletons, but also augmented reality glasses. A study by the Chair for Human Centered Ubiquitous Media at the LMU now shows that users have high expectations of the effects of these technologies. As soon as they believe that an AI would improve their cognitive abilities, their willingness to take risks increases. And that regardless of whether the AI ​​actually supports them.

• Technologies that improve human skills are changing the risk behavior of users
• Just the expectation of being supported by an AI increases the willingness to take risks
• Researchers from LMU, Aalto University and HU Berlin recommend checking possible placebo effects when evaluating new applications.

“The hype surrounding AI applications affects user expectations. This can lead to more risky behavior,” says Steeven Villa, PhD student at the Chair of Human Centered Ubiquitous Media and first author of the study.

Rule out placebo effects

In the study, the test subjects were told that they would be supported by an AI application when playing a virtual card game, which would increase their cognitive abilities. In fact, that support didn’t exist. Nevertheless, the participants showed a higher willingness to take risks as soon as they thought they would benefit from AI.

The study thus also confirms the possible placebo effect in technological applications in a form similar to that found in medicines. “When people increasingly work together with intelligent systems, it is important to understand a possible placebo effect in order to really be able to build systems that offer real support,” says Albrecht Schmidt, professor of computer science at LMU. The researchers recommend reviewing the actual benefits of new AI applications before disseminating them and then considering possible placebo effects. They also advise involving users and their expectations more closely in the development process.

Publication:

Steeven Villa, Thomas Kosch, Felix Grelka, Albrecht Schmidt, Robin Welsch (2023). The placebo effect of human augmentation: Anticipating cognitive augmentation increases risk-taking behavior. In Computers in Human BehaviorVolume 146.

Contact:

Steven Villa

PhD student at the Human Centered Ubiquitous Media chair at the LMU

Tel.: [phone] – 75146

Email: [e-mail]

Questions & contact:

Claudia Russo
Head of Communications & Press
Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
Leopoldstr. 3
80802 München

Phone: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

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