News Artificial Intelligence

AI may respond differently to bosses and subordinates

Social status can change whether an AI agent complies with its conversation partner

Illustration of AI responding to superiors

In a new study, pairs of higher and lower status AI agents talked to each other. Researchers found signs in their conversations that they responded differently based on their status.

Jackson Gibbs

By Lily Burton

AI agents seem to obey authority — even if it means bending the rules.

In a new study, researchers cast large language models as bosses and subordinates — principals and teachers, managers and employees — then let them talk.