Humans have a hardwired 'bug' that makes them assume a smart AI is also a moral one.
April 1, 2026
Original Paper
Is an intelligent machine a moral machine?
PsyArXiv · cxs58_v3
The Takeaway
Across nine studies, people consistently inferred that high machine intelligence implies moral competence and motivation. This creates a dangerous 'halo effect' where we trust artificial systems with safety and ethical choices simply because they are good at processing data.
From the abstract
As artificial intelligence (AI) systems become increasingly sophisticated and used in more consequential domains, an unspoken assumption seems to suggest enhanced performance or “intelligence” would entail greater alignment and safety – “morality”. And yet, as argued in the Orthogonality Thesis from AI ethics, an artificial agent becoming more intelligent does not mean it would necessarily become more moral, and therefore increased intelligence alone cannot reduce the danger that AI systems cou