APA Study Links Passive AI Use to Lower Worker Confidence
The American Psychological Association published a study finding that workers who passively rely on AI tools experience diminished self-confidence and a lower sense of work ownership.
A study published April 16 by the American Psychological Association in the journal 'Technology, Mind, and Behavior' found that heavy reliance on AI tools for workplace tasks correlates with lower self-confidence and a diminished sense of ownership over work. Analyzing 1,923 adults in the U.S. and Canada, the research indicates that users who accept AI outputs without modification feel the technology is doing the thinking for them.
Sarah Baldeo, a PhD candidate at Middlesex University and the study's author, noted that AI does not inherently cause cognitive decline. Instead, the impact depends on interaction style; participants who actively edited or questioned AI suggestions reported higher confidence and a stronger sense of authorship. This creates a self-confidence loop where uncertain users are more likely to defer to AI, which further deepens their uncertainty.
Associate professor Ethan Mollick added that maintaining cognitive skills requires conscious intention. He warned that users must resist the path of least resistance provided by passive AI use to avoid a loss of learning and thinking capabilities.
