Cognitive Surrender and What it Means to Public Relations

For decades, PR professionals have tried to influence what people think or how they think it. AI may be changing something even more fundamental: whether people do much of that thinking themselves. Researchers call it “Cognitive Surrender.” The tendency to accept an AI-generated answer without really scrutinizing it. And if AI increasingly sits between your message and your audience, or starts doing the thinking for communicators themselves, the implications for trust, persuasion and professional judgment could be enormous. Listen For4:30 What Is Cognitive Surrender and How Did Researchers Test It?7:44 Why Did People Accept Wrong AI Answers 80% of the Time?9:53 Can Cognitive Surrender Weaken Critical Thinking Skills?12:47 What Happens When AI Sits Between PR Pros and the Public?15:14 Why Should Communicators Think First and Prompt Second?Guest: Dr Steven Shaw, PhD, King’s College London and Wharton School, University of PennsylvaniaWebsite | LinkedIn | Google Scholar pageDougSubstack | Website | LinkedIn Subscribe to the Stories and Strategies PR podcast newsletterAre you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.Apply to be a guest on the podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestSend us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeSupport the show