Each One Teach One: What I learned about Confirmation Bias

I recently learned about the concept of confirmation bias, and it completely reframed how I think about the way we consume information and form opinions. Confirmation bias is a type of cognitive bias that refers to our natural tendency to favor information that supports our existing beliefs and to dismiss or undervalue information that contradicts them. Whether we realize it or not, this bias influences our perceptions, decisions, and everyday interactions.

Confirmation bias shows up in countless areas of life. One of the most noticeable is how we consume the news. Many people seek out media outlets that align with their political or social views, subconsciously avoiding sources that may challenge their stance. This creates echo chambers where only similar views are amplified, making it harder for us to understand or empathize with those who think differently. These echo chambers shape how we interpret the world around us.

What surprised me is that confirmation bias doesn’t just affect people; it can even be found in artificial intelligence. AI systems like ChatGPT are trained on datasets generated by humans, and they can inherit the same patterns of thinking, including cognitive biases. A recent study showed that AI can reflect human-like overconfidence and confirmation bias because of the way it's trained. 

Learning about confirmation bias helped me realize how easy it is to get trapped in a cycle of self-affirmation. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, watching YouTube videos, or reading articles, we’re constantly presented with opportunities to choose what we see, and often, we choose what makes us feel "right." This pattern is dangerous because it makes it harder to grow. It closes us off from learning new things and evolving our perspectives.

Understanding this bias is especially important in today’s world, where we're bombarded with information 24/7. If we're not intentional, it’s easy to mistake familiarity for truth. Being aware of confirmation bias encourages us to pause and re-evaluate. Are we seeking out other viewpoints? Are we truly open to changing our minds? Are we surrounding ourselves with people who challenge us, or just those who agree with us?

Ultimately, recognizing and addressing confirmation bias is about building intellectual humility. It’s about staying curious instead of being comfortable. It’s a reminder that while our brains are wired for efficiency, real understanding comes when we stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zones and take in ideas that might not fit neatly into what we already believe. That’s where growth happens.

The Age of AI

Watching  In the Age of AI, I walked away fascinated and frightened. The documentary opened my eyes to the massive transformation artificial intelligence is causing. It is not only impacting technology or jobs, but also altering the structure of our society. AI has created incredible progress in areas such as healthcare and transportation, but it does not come without its downsides, many of which are highly unsettling. AI has evolved beyond just being a technological tool; it is now a political, ethical, and economic force in our world.

On the positive side, AI has amazing capabilities. One example of this is Google's DeepMind. DeepMind uses AI to detect and monitor dozens of eye diseases. Researchers believe that DeepMind will be highly useful in quickly and efficiently diagnosing eye diseases that affect more than 625,000 people in the UK alone. Other innovations include self-driving trucks and IBM Watson, a system that analyzes patient records and cross-references them with medical databases. 

These advances could help save lives, increase efficiency and productivity, and reduce human error. Since AI can learn from data and make accurate predictions, it has the power to help solve some of humanity's biggest challenges. 

However, AI's darker implications cannot be ignored. The film emphasized China's use of AI for things such as surveillance. In some parts of China, AI is used to fine and publicly shame jaywalkers. In other parts, AI is being utilized to give people social credit scores, eerily similar to the very uncomfortable "Nosedive" episode of the show Black Mirror. 

This is one of the most disturbing aspects of AI to me: the ability of governments to weaponize AI to control people and limit freedoms. Even in democracies, privacy is at risk thanks to AI. Massive tech companies in the US are collecting data and using artificial intelligence to attempt to manipulate our behavior through targeted advertisements and content. 

The issue of privacy is where I feel most conflicted. While AI can improve convenience and safety, it also opens the door to unnecessary surveillance and identity theft. If personal data falls into the wrong hands, irreparable damage could be done. There is a delicate balance between comfort and control, one that I worry is in danger of tipping the wrong way. 

Overall, the documentary made me realize that AI is not in the future; it is here now. We all need to act thoughtfully and quickly to shape and control its impact.