Empirical studies reveals AI performance in cognitive tasks is comparable to humans, suggesting limits in efficiency.
This study analyzes the performance of artificial intelligence in processes known as “cognitive” (according to scientific literature) in comparison with the performance of human cognitive processes, analyzing experimental and/or empirical studies. The PRISMA process and bibliometric analysis were used to identify and analyze relevant research. A total of 291 studies were analyzed, which were grouped into five categories corresponding to the identified cognitive processes. The results show that only 10.3% of the studies report accuracy rates between 90% and 100% in their performance. The evidence suggests that AI can perform comparably to humans, but not with absolute efficiency. The experimental studies focus mainly on the “decision-making” process (56%), followed, in order of importance, by the processes of “analysis and evaluation” (25%), “judgment and reasoning” (8.6%), “comprehension and learning” (5.5%), and other “specific processes” (4.8%). The most significant contribution of this study is the comparative relational structure between human cognitive processes versus AI processes.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Ayala-Carabajo et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: