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Over 30% shift stance on ethical dilemmas after AI rebuttal, Japan study shows
(www.japantimes.co.jp)
this post was submitted on 20 Aug 2026
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AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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This study may be considered one data point and if others add to it, okay. But until then, this is not worth getting outraged over.
Also, if you are in a position to change this dramatic outcome by altering a train's course or pushing a person off a bridge, you probably won't have the time to ask an LLM to enter into a philosophical debate with you. So this measured a highly theoretical change of mind about a virtually never to be encountered philosophical dilemma. The remote likelihood of such situations landing in their lap must have been very present in the participants' minds while answering. It's like playing with monopoly money or shooting a bunch of NPCs. A study about a more life-like scenario (political beliefs, cultural norms, work practices, etc.) which ticks all requirements of a well peer-reviewed study would probably be more insightful.
We are also retreading all the debates about misinformation from when the web came about and then again with the advent of social media. Which had previously been held when movable type came about in Europe. Or the advent of radio and TV. The long arm of history shows we're getting better at dealing with these changes.
The train switch dilemma is just a mental exercise with absurd situations.
Of course it's highly unlikely that any human would have their hands on a train switch with the Hobson's choice between sending a speeding train headed towards 5 tied down racoons or Mr Beast
The point is that an automated persuasion machine was demonstrated to be effective to a degree that could sway public opinion, and ultimately democratic voting to the whims of whomever controls, or can afford to rent, these persuasion machines.
And yes, it's the same phenomenon all over again every time a new paradigm for communication rolls around, as you say.
But this time this new paradigm is very much controlled by the wealthiest of the wealthy.
Thanks for your comment. They demonstrated something and I didn't mean to dismiss that out of hand. It can be one data point hopefully among many.
I think that was true with the socials to a point as well, all aflush with venture capital and people like Peter Thiel dicking about there as well. I think radio and television needed capital as well to get going. And the printing press wasn't cheap either and Gutenberg needed investors. So I think it's a retread at scale as well.
We don't believe everything we read, hear, see, and come across on social media either. The resistance to so-called AI is already building up. People who don't use it at all, people who try to avoid it, and businesses are regretting letting a lot of people go for this crap. We'll find a way to filter out the bullshit as well. Nobody jumps out of their seat when a train comes out of the tunnel on the silver screen any more. Consider that image as apocryphal and metaphorical in this context.