Why We Hand Decisions to Machines

The provided text, "Why We Hand Decisions to Machines" by Greg Twemlow, explores the human tendency to relinquish moral judgment to external systems, drawing parallels with Joseph Conrad's literary themes. Twemlow argues that just as Conrad's characters often succumbed to the pressure of societal norms rather than individual conscience, modern society risks ceding responsibility to intelligent machines. The article advocates for cultivating habits of doubt and reflection through a "pause" before committing to machine-generated decisions, emphasising the importance of human authorship and accountability. Ultimately, the piece champions the idea of using technology as a tool for considered choices, rather than allowing it to dictate human action. Read the article.About the Author - Greg Twemlow writes and teaches at the intersection of technology, education, and human judgment. He works with educators and businesses to make AI explainable and assessable in classrooms and boardrooms — to ensure AI users show their process and own their decisions. His cognition protocol, the Context & Critique Rule™, is built on a three-step process: Evidence → Cognition → Discernment — a bridge from what’s scattered to what’s chosen. Context & Critique → Accountable AI™. © 2025 Greg Twemlow. “Context & Critique → Accountable AI” and “Context & Critique Rule” are unregistered trademarks (™).