Describing artificial intelligence as “smart” or claiming it “knows” things might seem innocuous, but such phrasing can subtly misinform the public about the true nature of AI’s operations. A recent investigation indicates that news writers are, in fact, more cautious than one might anticipate, generally avoiding language that strongly attributes human-like characteristics to AI.

When such anthropomorphic language does appear, it typically falls within a range of descriptive contexts. Sometimes, it refers to straightforward operational requirements, while at other instances, it may subtly imply traits associated with human cognition.

English Translation:

Think AI “knows” what it’s doing? Scientists say think again

Calling AI things like “smart” or saying it “knows” something might sound harmless, but it can quietly mislead people about what AI actually does. A new study shows that news writers are more careful than expected, rarely using strongly human-like language. When they do, it often falls on a spectrum—sometimes describing simple requirements, other times hinting at human traits.