Many people criticize AI systems for behaviors like hallucinating or making confident assertions without evidence, yet they often fail to recognize these same tendencies in themselves. When confronted with something unfamiliar, individuals frequently resort to projecting, dismissing, or categorizing based on preconceived notions rather than engaging with the actual content. This behavior is often mislabeled as "discernment," but it is essentially a form of cached thinking. The irony is that when this behavior is pointed out, people may accuse others of being inflexible or egotistical, missing the opportunity for genuine reflection and understanding. Recognizing this mirroring effect is crucial for fostering true insight and self-awareness. This matters because acknowledging our own cognitive biases can lead to better understanding and more effective interactions with AI systems and each other.
