Wharton 'Cognitive Surrender' Study: 80% of People Accept Wrong AI Answers Without Checking

r/ChatGPT / Wharton SSRN·high signal

A new Wharton study titled 'Thinking — Fast, Slow, and Artificial' introduces Tri-System Theory (adding 'System 3' for artificial cognition) and coins 'cognitive surrender' — adopting AI outputs with minimal scrutiny. Across 3 preregistered experiments (1,372 participants, 9,593 trials), participants consulted AI on >50% of trials and accepted incorrect AI answers 79.8% of the time. Even when AI was wrong, it increased user confidence. The study recommends architectural solutions: structured verification protocols and a second AI auditing the first. Went viral on r/ChatGPT (430↑, 101 comments).