New research by Hao Cui and Taha Yasseri, published in Computers in Human Behavior Reports, explores how people evaluate decisions made by AI managers compared with human managers. As artificial intelligence systems increasingly take on managerial roles, understanding how people perceive and respond to these systems is becoming an important question.
In an experiment, participants worked in teams of three to solve a short puzzle. After completing the task, a manager selected one player to receive a small bonus. The researchers found that participants reacted more negatively when a female AI manager decided not to give an award, even though the decision itself was identical. The findings suggest that gender biases commonly observed in evaluations of human leaders may also influence how people judge AI decision-makers, with potential implications for future human–AI interactions.