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Some interesting new research suggests that people devalue work done with AI—except when it’s their own. This is called fundamental attribution error.

Across five experiments, people believed:

• Their own AI use was 12.6% more acceptable for writing a cover letter than if someone else did.
• They were 38.7% more likely to use AI for inspiration rather than outsourcing a task.
• Their AI contribution was 22.4% lower than others’ AI use.

When analyzing tasks completed with AI assistance, participants consistently undervalued work done by others compared to their own efforts.

This suggests a perception gap—where individuals see their own AI use as a tool for efficiency while assuming others rely on it as a crutch.

We also believe tools impact others more than they influence us—like assuming someone scrolling their phone is distracted, but excusing ourselves for the same behavior.

So, how do we respond to this cognitive bias?

Be transparent about AI’s role (e.g., “AI provided examples”). People tend to assume AI played a larger role than it actually did, which can reduce perceived value. Clarifying AI’s limited involvement can help counteract this bias. Plus, emphasizing human oversight and decision-making in AI-assisted work can improve audience trust and engagement.

Take a closer look at the write-up by Science Says.

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