Why Did It Do That? Experts Warn That Speed, Opacity And Thin Training Erode Human Judgment In AI-Assisted Decisions

A WUNC report on October 5 quotes Paul Scharre of the Center for a New American Security on the opacity of AI systems: “Oftentimes, with AI systems, it’s like, why did it do that?” Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Joe Chapa of UMass Boston argues that everyone who touches an AI system needs baseline training in how statistical AI works. CSIS analysts say Maven helped identify targets at roughly ten times the previous speed in the first hours of the Iran war, and the report notes overreliance may have played a role in a strike that killed more than 160 people at an Iranian school. The military setting is extreme, but the behavioral mechanism applies to any high-tempo review process.

Reported by: WUNC / American Homefront Project

Norm's Take

If AI raises decision tempo, reviewers become the bottleneck and the temptation is to rubber-stamp. Set a minimum review time and a mandatory explanation standard for high-consequence AI recommendations in your own firm.

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Analysis and opinion, not investment or legal advice. © 2026 Norm Murray. All Rights Reserved.

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Norm Murray
AI Leadership Advisor · Psychologist · Economist
Norm advises CEOs, boards and senior leaders on the psychology and economics of AI adoption: what AI does to leaders and organizations, not just what it does. He has led global businesses across multiple continents and writes The Norm Report for executives navigating the AI shift.
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