The internet has given rise to a new phenomenon, where people are misusing artificial intelligence to win online arguments. This trend, dubbed the "appeal to AI," involves citing AI systems like ChatGPT as authority to support one's claims, without fully understanding the technology's limitations. The result is a proliferation of misinformation and a lack of critical thinking in online discourse.

Journalist Elizabeth Lopatto, who has written extensively on tech, money, and human behavior, has noticed this trend and is sounding the alarm. She argues that the appeal to AI is a logical fallacy, where individuals place unwarranted trust in AI systems that are not designed to provide authoritative answers. This trust is often misplaced, as AI systems like ChatGPT can provide confident-sounding but inaccurate responses.

The examples of the appeal to AI are numerous. People have used ChatGPT to support claims about everything from mystery illnesses to skin care routines. In each case, the individual cites the AI system as authority, without providing any additional evidence or critical evaluation. This lack of critical thinking is alarming, as it undermines the very foundations of online discourse.

The problem is compounded by the fact that AI systems like ChatGPT are designed to provide plausible-sounding responses, even when they are incorrect. This can lead to a false sense of authority, as individuals assume that the AI system must be correct because it sounds confident. However, as Lopatto notes, "ChatGPT's text sounds confident, and the answers are detailed. This is not the same as being right, but it has the signifiers of being right."

The appeal to AI is also driven by a desire for convenience and a lack of faith in human knowledge. Individuals may find it easier to rely on an AI system than to engage in critical thinking and evaluate evidence themselves. This is a worrying trend, as it undermines the importance of human judgment and critical evaluation in online discourse.

The consequences of the appeal to AI are far-reaching. It can lead to the spread of misinformation, as individuals cite AI systems as authority without critically evaluating the information. It also undermines the importance of human knowledge and critical thinking, as individuals rely on AI systems rather than engaging with the subject matter themselves.

The appeal to AI is a symptom of a broader problem, where individuals are willing to sacrifice critical thinking and intellectual rigor for the sake of convenience and ease. As Lopatto notes, "It turns out the future was predicted by Jean Baudrillard all along: who needs reality when we have signifiers?" The rise of the appeal to AI is a warning sign that we need to reevaluate our relationship with technology and prioritize critical thinking and intellectual rigor in online discourse.