Computer Says: I Don't Know? – On Epistemic Humility as a Condition for Human-AI Collaboration.

The article focuses on the role of epistemic humility—acknowledging the limits of one’s knowledge—in medical practice and its implications for human–AI collaboration in clinical settings. It argues that medical AI systems should be designed to foster epistemic humility by transparently communicating...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Bioethics Vol. 26; no. 8; pp. 9 - 13
Autores principales: Starke, Georg, Drogt, Jojanneke, Jongsma, Karin
Formato: editorial Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Aug2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:The article focuses on the role of epistemic humility—acknowledging the limits of one’s knowledge—in medical practice and its implications for human–AI collaboration in clinical settings. It argues that medical AI systems should be designed to foster epistemic humility by transparently communicating their uncertainties and limitations, thereby supporting physicians’ reflective judgment and shared decision-making with patients. Such design features can help prevent overreliance on AI, promote collaborative deliberation, and maintain appropriate distribution of epistemic authority among clinicians, patients, and technology. The article emphasizes that epistemic humility in AI is not an intrinsic virtue but an action-oriented property that can scaffold virtuous behaviors in human users, ultimately enhancing the quality and safety of clinical care.