🤖〽️Prompt Engineering: Copilot Unabridged (Part 110: The Mere-Exposure Effect - How Familiarity Breeds Trust)

Prompt Engineering Series

Prompt: "write a post of 600 words on mere-exposure effect in AI"

Introduction

The mere-exposure effect, first identified by psychologist Robert Zajonc in 1968, describes how people tend to develop a preference for things simply because they are familiar with them. Whether it's a song, a face, or a brand logo, repeated exposure often leads to increased liking. In recent years, this effect has found a new frontier: artificial intelligence. As AI systems become more integrated into our daily routines - from voice assistants to recommendation engines - the mere-exposure effect is quietly influencing how we perceive and accept these technologies.

The Psychology Behind Familiarity

At its core, the mere-exposure effect is about cognitive fluency. When we encounter something repeatedly, our brains process it more easily, which feels good and leads to positive associations. This mechanism is especially powerful in shaping attitudes toward novel or initially ambiguous stimuli - like AI. Early interactions with AI might feel strange or even unsettling, but over time, familiarity breeds comfort. This is particularly relevant given the 'black box' nature of many AI systems, where users don’t fully understand how decisions are made.

AI in Everyday Life: From Novelty to Normalcy

AI has transitioned from a futuristic concept to a routine part of modern life. Consider how often people interact with AI without even realizing it: autocomplete in search engines, personalized playlists, smart home devices, and customer service chatbots. Each interaction reinforces familiarity. A 2024 study on AI psychology suggests that as exposure increases, users report higher trust and lower anxiety about AI systems. This shift is part of what researchers call the 'next to normal' thesis - AI is no longer a novelty but a normalized tool.

Mere-Exposure in Digital Interfaces

Recent research comparing the mere-exposure effect across screens and immersive virtual reality (IVR) found that increased exposure consistently enhanced user preference in both environments. This has implications for AI interfaces: the more users engage with AI through familiar platforms - like smartphones or VR headsets - the more likely they are to develop positive attitudes toward the technology. It also suggests that design consistency and repeated interaction can be strategic tools for improving user experience and trust.

Implications for AI Safety and Ethics

While the mere-exposure effect can foster acceptance, it also raises ethical questions. Familiarity might lead users to overlook risks or blindly trust AI systems. For example, people may accept biased recommendations or privacy-invasive features simply because they’ve grown accustomed to them. This underscores the importance of transparency, education, and regulation in AI development. Designers and policymakers must ensure that increased exposure doesn’t lead to complacency or misuse.

Balancing Familiarity with Understanding

The mere-exposure effect is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it helps integrate AI into society by reducing fear and resistance. On the other, it can mask complexity and encourage passive acceptance. To harness its benefits responsibly, AI developers should pair exposure with explainability. When users understand how AI works, they’re more likely to engage critically rather than just comfortably.

Conclusion

The mere-exposure effect is a subtle yet powerful force shaping our relationship with AI. As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, repeated interactions are making it feel more trustworthy, approachable, and indispensable. But with this growing comfort comes a responsibility: to ensure that familiarity doesn’t replace informed engagement. By recognizing the psychological dynamics at play, we can build AI systems that are not only accepted - but also understood and ethically sound. 

Just try the prompt on Copilot or your favorite AI-powered assistant! Have you got a different/similar result? How big or important is the difference? Any other thoughts?
Just share the link to the post with me and I'll add it to this post as a resource!

Disclaimer: The whole text was generated by Copilot (under Windows 11) at the first attempt. This is just an experiment to evaluate feature's ability to answer standard general questions, independently on whether they are correctly or incorrectly posed. Moreover, the answers may reflect hallucinations and other types of inconsistent or incorrect reasoning.

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