anchoring effect

anchoring effect (plural anchoring effects)

1. A psychological phenomenon wherein a previous appraisal has its range determined by communication of a previous reference point.
   • 2025 October 18, Sophie McBain, “Are we living in a golden age of stupidity?”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN, archived from the original on 24 December 2025:

     Like many researchers, [Michael] Gerlich believes that, used in the right way, AI can make us cleverer and more creative – but the way most people use it produces bland, unimaginative, factually questionable work. One concern is the so-called “anchoring effect”. If you post a question to generative AI, the answer it gives you sets your brain on a certain mental path and makes you less likely to consider alternative approaches.