The Complex Psychology Of People Choosing To Trust Either Humans Or AI

InnovationAIThe Complex Psychology Of People Choosing To Trust Either Humans Or AIByLance Eliot,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Dr. Lance B. Eliot is a world-renowned AI scientist and consultant.Follow AuthorAug 24, 2026, 03:15am EDTSummaryNew research delves into the complex psychology of trust, specifically how people perceive humans versus artificial intelligence. Studies reveal a common "human premium," where individuals inherently trust humans more, and an "AI penalty," leading to less trust in AI. However, this isn't always the case; prior experiences can lead to an "AI premium" and "human penalty" in certain contexts. Crucially, people's trust is often based on their *perception* of who or what they're interacting with, even if that perception is incorrect. As AI becomes increasingly sophisticated and indistinguishable from human interaction, these biases significantly influence how human minds adapt to a world filled with both human and AI interactions, highlighting the dynamic and context-dependent nature of trust.Show More Human psychology is changing due to AI that convincingly converses in human-like ways.gettyIn today’s column, I examine the psychology underlying how people choose to trust others. By others, I am referring not only to trusting humans but also to opting to trust AI. The vexing question of whether people are going to trust AI is a monumental one and keeps getting a lot of solemn attention. The abundantly logical approach entails discussing trust in two pathways, consisting of the longstanding human-to-human basis and the newly arising human-to-AI basis.Numerous research studies have indicated that people often have an inherent trust bias known as the “human premium”. They tilt toward trusting humans more than trusting AI. Indeed, there is an allied bias referred to as the “AI penalty”, namely that people perceive AI as less trustworthy...