What does this research mean for the field?

Frequent engagement with AI platforms is associated with a decreased ability to distinguish AI-generated from human-created content, but targeted training with labeled exemplars and immediate feedback can significantly improve this discernment skill. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine whether attitudes toward AI or prior AI engagement predict the ability to distinguish synthetic from human-created content, and whether targeted feedback training can improve discernment accuracy.

September 14, 2026AI & SocietyOpen Access

Human discernment of artificial intelligence in online markets can be shaped by experience and training

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Authors

TMTanaka ManhedeTemple University YFYuliana FartachukTemple University SMStevent A MartinezTemple University

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Implication

Controlled trial demonstrates improved synthetic content detection following targeted training in online evaluators, indicating human discernment can be enhanced against artificial intelligence.

Key Points

To determine whether attitudes toward AI or prior AI engagement predict the ability to distinguish synthetic from human-created content, and whether targeted feedback training can improve discernment accuracy.
Assessed correlations between participant baseline AI discernment accuracy, attitudes toward AI, and prior frequency and diversity of AI platform use.
Assigned participants to an experimental intervention (n = 60) featuring accurately labeled human/AI exemplars, immediate trial feedback, and performance-based monetary incentives, or an active control group (n = 57) with unlabeled exemplars and delayed feedback.
Self-reported attitudes toward AI did not predict discernment performance, but higher frequency and variety of AI platform use significantly associated with lower discernment scores.
Baseline discernment accuracy did not differ significantly between arms, but the experimental training group achieved significant gains in discernment accuracy at intermediate and final assessments, whereas the control group showed no improvement.

Cite This Study

Manhede et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aa7b3aa0926e14a848b2ba7 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-026-03373-3

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Implication

Controlled trial demonstrates improved synthetic content detection following targeted training in online evaluators, indicating human discernment can be enhanced against artificial intelligence.

Human discernment of artificial intelligence in online markets can be shaped by experience and training

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Human discernment of artificial intelligence in online markets can be shaped by experience and training

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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