Cognitive Load
The amount of mental effort required for a user to interact with and understand an AI system, which must be managed to ensure effective human-AI collaboration.
In plain language
How much brainpower it takes to use an AI system. If understanding the AI's output requires a statistics PhD, the cognitive load is too high and people will make mistakes or ignore the AI entirely.
Why this matters
High cognitive load undermines the effectiveness of human oversight. Your governance framework should require that AI systems used in decision support be designed to minimise cognitive burden on human reviewers, ensuring that oversight is actually feasible and consistent.
Relevance
GovernanceCognitive load affects how well humans can oversee and evaluate AI recommendations; managing it is essential for effective governance controls.
Related terms
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