The Role of Digital Literacy in Maintaining Autonomy in AI Decision-Support

Balancing the Burdens

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

S.N.R. Buijsman (TU Delft - Ethics & Philosophy of Technology)

S.E. Carter (TU Delft - Web Information Systems)

Juan Pablo Bermudez (University of Southampton)

Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-025-00963-9
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
Ethics & Philosophy of Technology
Issue number
4
Volume number
38
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Abstract

Integrating AI systems into workflows risks undermining the competence of the people supported by them, specifically due to a loss of meta-cognitive competence. We discuss a recent suggestion to mitigate this through better uncertainty quantification. While this is certainly a step in the right direction, there is a question whether users are sufficiently supported to engage in critical reflection with literacy and tools alone. We therefore suggest that socio-technical system design focused on the role of AI systems is crucial to preserving autonomy, even when supported by uncertainty quantification.