The hidden costs of ‘helpful’ AI
-
-
Bluesky
-
-
-
-
-
X
A computer-science experiment captures, with unusual clarity, the difference between designing artificial-intelligence systems that are ever-more powerful according to a fixed benchmark and developing tools that genuinely support human judgement1. Researchers have created a collaborative chess game in which each team comprises pairs, partnering a strong AI with a weaker, human-like one. A coin toss decides, before each move, which partner will play. Neither knows in advance which will go next.
The result was striking. Despite being weaker at conventional chess, AI tools designed to make moves that the human-like partner could build on consistently beat teams led by Leela, a superhuman chess AI1. Being powerful was not enough: compatibility with a partner was more important.
The intelligence illusion: why AI isn’t as smart as it is made out to be