# Belief Offloading in Human-AI Interaction

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.08754 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.08754/

## Key facts

- Cited by 3 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 7 of its 40 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 9 Feb 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 7 of 7)

- [On the Conversational Persuasiveness of Large Language Models: A Randomized Controlled Trial](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.14380/) (2024)
- [Algorithmic Monoculture and Social Welfare](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2101.05853/) (2021)
- [Building Machines that Learn and Think with People](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.03943/) (2024)
- [Objection Overruled! Lay People can Distinguish Large Language Models from Lawyers, but still Favour Advice from an LLM](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.07871/) (2024)
- [Epistemological Fault Lines Between Human and Artificial Intelligence](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.19466/) (2025)
- [A Longitudinal Randomized Control Study of Companion Chatbot Use: Anthropomorphism and Its Mediating Role on Social Impacts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.19515/) (2025)
- [How AI Responses Shape User Beliefs: The Effects of Information Detail and Confidence on Belief Strength and Stance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.09667/) (2025)

## Built on by (most cited first, 3 of 3)

- [AI Assistance Reduces Persistence and Hurts Independent Performance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.04721/) (2026)
- [Psychological Competence as a Missing Dimension in AI Evaluation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.08285/) (2026)
- [Ownership in AI-Assisted Everyday Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.20658/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

What happens when people's beliefs are derived from information provided by an LLM? People's use of LLM chatbots as thought partners can contribute to cognitive offloading, which can have adverse effects on cognitive skills in cases of over-reliance. This paper defines and investigates a particular kind of cognitive offloading in human-AI interaction, "belief offloading," in which people's processes of forming and upholding beliefs are offloaded onto an AI system with downstream consequences on their behavior and the nature of their system of beliefs. Drawing on philosophy, psychology, and computer science research, we clarify the boundary conditions under which belief offloading occurs and provide a descriptive taxonomy of belief offloading and its normative implications. We close with directions for future work to assess the potential for and consequences of belief offloading in human-AI interaction.