AI Use Makes Us Overestimate Our Cognitive Performance, Study Reveals
Posted2 months agoActive2 months ago
techxplore.comSciencestory
calmneutral
Debate
20/100
Artificial IntelligenceCognitive PerformancePsychology
Key topics
Artificial Intelligence
Cognitive Performance
Psychology
A study found that using AI tools can lead people to overestimate their cognitive abilities, highlighting the complex relationship between technology and human cognition, with commenters discussing the implications for productivity and self-assessment.
Snapshot generated from the HN discussion
Discussion Activity
Light discussionFirst comment
N/A
Peak period
2
0-1h
Avg / period
1.5
Key moments
- 01Story posted
Oct 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM EDT
2 months ago
Step 01 - 02First comment
Oct 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM EDT
0s after posting
Step 02 - 03Peak activity
2 comments in 0-1h
Hottest window of the conversation
Step 03 - 04Latest activity
Oct 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM EDT
2 months ago
Step 04
Generating AI Summary...
Analyzing up to 500 comments to identify key contributors and discussion patterns
ID: 45750242Type: storyLast synced: 11/17/2025, 8:08:44 AM
Want the full context?
Jump to the original sources
Read the primary article or dive into the live Hacker News thread when you're ready.
AI makes you smarter but none the wiser: The disconnect between performance and metacognition - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S07475... | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108779
Abstract: "Optimizing human–AI interaction requires users to reflect on their performance critically, yet little is known about generative AI systems’ effect on users’ metacognitive judgments. In two large-scale studies, we investigate how AI usage is associated with users’ metacognitive monitoring and performance in logical reasoning tasks. Specifically, our paper examines whether people using AI to complete tasks can accurately monitor how well they perform. In Study 1, participants (N = 246) used AI to solve 20 logical reasoning problems from the Law School Admission Test. While their task performance improved by three points compared to a norm population, participants overestimated their task performance by four points. Interestingly, higher AI literacy correlated with lower metacognitive accuracy, suggesting that those with more technical knowledge of AI were more confident but less precise in judging their own performance. Using a computational model, we explored individual differences in metacognitive accuracy and found that the Dunning–Kruger effect, usually observed in this task, ceased to exist with AI use. Study 2 (N = 452) replicates these findings. We discuss how AI levels cognitive and metacognitive performance in human–AI interaction and consider the consequences of performance overestimation for designing interactive AI systems that foster accurate self-monitoring, avoid overreliance, and enhance cognitive performance."