A new academic study suggests that AI-generated advice can make people markedly worse at answering questions, even as it makes them feel more certain they are right. According to researchers from three universities in France and Italy, access to AI input sharply reduced performance while boosting self-confidence.
The headline numbers are striking. Participants’ willingness to say “I don’t know” reportedly fell from 44% to 3% when AI advice was available. At the same time, accuracy dropped from 27% to 9%, while confidence rose from 30% to 76%.
The findings point to a troubling pattern: people appeared more likely to trust incorrect AI suggestions than to hold back when unsure. In effect, the tool seems to have pushed users away from suspending judgment and toward giving answers they felt good about, even when those answers were wrong.
The research adds to broader concerns about how AI systems can influence human decision-making. Rather than simply helping users reach better conclusions, the study indicates that AI advice may sometimes replace caution with misplaced certainty, especially when people rely on it without questioning the output.
