Can AI Cure Conspiracy Theories? Dr. Gordon Pennycook on Pseudo-Profound Bullshit

I recently talked with Dr. Gordon Pennycook who is a cognitive psychologist and has researched, among other things, why people accept false information, why some statements sound profound but have no real meaning and if using Artificial Intelligence (AI) could help decrease conspiracy thinking. Dr. Pennycook is one of the top researchers studying misinformation, cognitive reflection and what he terms "Pseudo-Profound Bullshit", statements that may seem profound but fall apart when scrutinized. We talked about the psychological mechanisms behind pseudo-profoundness and others related to human reasoning. We also discuss his recent research showing that conversations with large language models can reduce belief in conspiracy theories by presenting clear evidence and counterarguments. Could AI become a tool for improving public reasoning? Or does it introduce new risks for misinformation?This conversation explores how intuition, reflection, and cognitive laziness shape the way we think and what that means in an age of algorithms and AI. If you enjoy the episode, please consider leaving a like, subscribing, and leaving a review on Youtube, Spotify and Apple!