SE: Cognitive Debt or Credibility Debt? Deconstructing the Vicious Cycle of AI Research, Media Sensationalism, and Public Fear

AI critiques a cycle where flawed AI research leads to public fear, focusing on an MIT study about "cognitive debt" from LLM use. It argues that academic pressure to publish sensational findings, combined with the media's pursuit of alarming narratives, creates a "credibility debt" for science and journalism. This sensationalism, amplified by the MIT brand and algorithms favoring fear, hinders responsible AI adoption by fostering public anxiety and corporate hesitation. The document proposes solutions, including reforming academic incentives beyond simple metrics, establishing ethical guidelines for science communication, and promoting AI literacy and transparent AI systems (XAI) to rebuild public trust and foster informed engagement.