Team Cognitive Health playbook/Module 3 · Cognitive offloading

Day 24 / 100 · Cognitive offloading · Automation bias

The tool said so. So it's right?

Automation bias is the tendency to over-trust automated output, even when other evidence says otherwise. It comes in two forms.

Commission

Doing What It Says

“The assistant suggested it.”

  • Following wrong advice
  • Overriding your own judgement

Omission

Missing What It Didn't Flag

“Nothing came up, so it's fine.”

  • Silence treated as all-clear
  • Checks quietly stop happening

Why it happens

The Root Causes

“It's usually right…”

  • Trust builds from past accuracy
  • Checking feels like wasted effort

Source: Transportation Research Board TRID ↗

The tool is a second opinion, not the final word.