On an individual basis, this means that people using AI services want to be able to exercise veto power over big decisions such as payments, accessing and using contact details, changing account details, placing orders, and even seeking clarity during the decision-making process. Extending this idea to the work environment can lead to increased resistance in professional settings as well.
None of this should be considered new. These demands were evident even before OpenAI’s ChatGPT arrived in late 2022. With the realization that AI can make decisions based on illusions, as Apple’s research shows, preserving the role of human agency seems more important than ever. Interestingly, Google CEO Sundar Pichai has a similar view, arguing that “the future of AI is not about replacing humans, but augmenting them.”
master and machine
Apple’s research suggests that people can get used to using artificial intelligence to get things done, but they aren’t willing to do so at the expense of agency. A KPMG survey last year confirmed the extent to which people are currently using AI, with 38% of respondents saying they use AI weekly or daily. The same study also showed that 54% of people are cautious about trusting the systems they use, with trust decreasing over time.
