{"id":18002,"date":"2025-12-17T16:23:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:23:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/custom-web-design-why-the-grumpy-designer-is-wary-of-ais-confidence-insights-from-speckyboy\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T16:23:06","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T16:23:06","slug":"custom-web-design-why-the-grumpy-designer-is-wary-of-ais-confidence-insights-from-speckyboy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/custom-web-design-why-the-grumpy-designer-is-wary-of-ais-confidence-insights-from-speckyboy\/","title":{"rendered":"Custom Web Design: Why the Grumpy Designer Is Wary of AI\u2019s Confidence | Insights from Speckyboy"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Confidence Conundrum: AI and Our Perception of Accuracy<\/h1>\n
<p>Confidence is a funny thing. I struggled with it as a child. I didn\u2019t believe I was good enough to excel in school or athletics. Even so, I was a terrific partner in pop-culture trivia.<\/p>\n<p>Growing up to be a Grumpy Designer came with a boost to my self-worth. I discovered a talent for design, development, and writing. That other people enjoyed my work made me feel capable. I also started caring less about what other people think.<\/p>\n<p>However, I still feel self-conscious when in the presence of a confident person. You know, the type who could sell anything to anyone. I tend to doubt myself in those situations. Perhaps that intimidation factor is why these people often rise to high-powered positions, but I digress.<\/p>\n<p>These days, I don\u2019t have to leave my house to feel that same sense of insufficiency. All I have to do is fire up an artificial intelligence (AI) app. It will respond with a level of confidence we mortals can only dream of.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why I find AI\u2019s self-assured attitude to be troubling. Scary, even.<br\/><\/p>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Confident_Answers_Dont_Always_Mean_Accurate_Results\">Confident Answers Don\u2019t Always Mean Accurate Results<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A well-tuned AI model can say anything while keeping a straight face. OK, it has no face (yet). But hear me out. This thing could tell you that the moon is made of cream cheese and really mean it. The worrisome part is that some people will trust the answer without question.<\/p>\n<p>I see this brazenness when asking AI for coding advice. I\u2019ll share a buggy code snippet or request a new one from scratch. The tool generates code and an explanation of how it works. How thoughtful!<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, it turns out that code generated in less than a minute isn\u2019t always reliable. Testing AI\u2019s output doesn\u2019t necessarily work the first time. It either produces the same issue or introduces new ones.<\/p>\n<p>Pointing out these issues humbles the robot, to a degree. The go-to response seems to be, \u201cOh, that\u2019s right! I forgot to account for x, y, and z. Here\u2019s how to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That magnetic personality springs back to life, with an answer just as confident as the first one. The cycle continues until AI gets it right or I give up.<\/p>\n<p>None of this means AI isn\u2019t helpful. However, the tone of its responses gives humans a false sense of security. Large language models (LLMs) can convince us in ways most people can\u2019t. Thus, it discourages us from critical thinking.<\/p>\n<p>The impact is already being felt. Future generations that grow up with this omnipresent technology will lose even more. For them, AI\u2019s answer may be the only one they see.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ai-confidence-01-a.jpg\" alt=\"Artificial intelligence provides confident answers, even if they're inaccurate.\" width=\"900\" height=\"590\"\/><\/p>\n\n<h2><span id=\"Can_AI_Take_It_Down_a_Notch\">Can AI Take It Down a Notch?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>I understand the predicament AI companies are in. From a marketing perspective, an app that provides answers to difficult questions must demonstrate competence. A confident tone is one way to establish trust with users.<\/p>\n<p>There doesn\u2019t seem to be an easy alternative. For instance, I can\u2019t imagine a sheepish response will give the same positive vibes. Can you imagine Google\u2019s Gemini responding with, \u201cThis probably won\u2019t work, but try it anyway\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t believe enlarging those tiny disclaimers will help, either. So, what\u2019s the solution? There are a few things that might help (notice my semi-confident tone).<\/p>\n\n<h3><span id=\"Do_a_Better_Job_of_Citing_References\">Do a Better Job of Citing References<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>AI is not magic. It does not conjure knowledge from the cosmos. It crawls websites (sometimes, a little too much). However, it does a poor job of citing its sources of information.<\/p>\n<p>Some apps add clickable footnotes, while others seem to offer no visible references. That\u2019s not good enough.<\/p>\n<p>Sources could be better integrated into AI\u2019s responses. For example, instead of saying:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBe sure to escape the output of your WordPress plugin.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It could be tweaked to:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAccording to official WordPress documentation, plugin authors should escape everything from untrusted sources.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This step accomplishes two things. First, it credits the source of information (the polite thing to do). Second, it invites users to dig deeper into the subject matter.<\/p>\n\n<h3><span id=\"Tell_Us_What_Could_Go_Wrong\">Tell Us What Could Go Wrong<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Since LLMs have gobs of data, I\u2019m willing to bet they can account for the worst-case scenario. They could use this information to keep users safe when experimenting with code, cooking, or other potentially dangerous activities.<\/p>\n<p>Like the coffee cup that warns you of the hot liquid inside, AI apps could provide a safety checklist with their responses. Reminders to back up your website, for instance, might save someone from a disaster.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a common technique for writers and other content creators. We\u2019re not supposed to assume the reader knows everything. Thus, informing them of potential dangers is part of being a responsible resource.<\/p>\n<p>AI should be held to the same standards as its human counterparts.<\/p>\n\n<h3><span id=\"Ask_Follow-up_Questions_to_Provide_the_Best_Answer\">Ask Follow-up Questions to Provide the Best Answer<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There\u2019s more than one way to accomplish something. And some subjects are controversial or have gray areas. That\u2019s the reality of our world. AI should strive to notify us of those instances without taking sides.<\/p>\n<p>When using AI to write code, I have noticed occasions where it provides multiple approaches. It\u2019s helpful, as I can use the one that works best for me. This should become the rule, not the exception.<\/p>\n<p>I realize it might be difficult for an app to do this without proper context. We humans aren\u2019t always clear about what we want. So, why not ask us a few follow-up questions? Or make responses with multiple options a choose-your-own adventure experience?<\/p>\n<p>This promotes a more conversational approach to tasks and encourages critical thinking. It may even lead to better results.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ai-confidence-02-a.jpg\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" alt=\"There are steps AI companies can take to improve user confidence.\"\/><\/p>\n\n<h2><span id=\"AI_Doesnt_Have_to_Be_So_Smug\">AI Doesn\u2019t Have to Be So Smug<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AI answers our queries with robust confidence, regardless of its accuracy. It\u2019s a concerning trend, given how quickly these tools are being adopted. Humans who blindly follow AI\u2019s advice will inevitably be in for a rude awakening.<\/p>\n<p>I can\u2019t see this as a positive for either AI companies or users. Trust is a key component for growth. Users will flock to an app they trust and shun ones that provide bad information. Just like other consumer products, reliability matters for AI\u2019s ultimate success.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the answer is for these models to trade a bit of convenience for a more trustworthy process. We humans do it all the time. Maybe these machines could learn a thing or two from us.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Written by <span itemprop=\"name\">Eric Karkovack<\/span><\/h2>\n<p itemprop=\"description\">Eric Karkovack is a web designer and WordPress expert with over two decades of experience. You can visit his business site here. He recently started a writing service for WordPress products: WP Product Writeup. He also has an opinion on just about every subject. You can follow his rants on Bluesky @karks.com.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:5px\">Read more articles by Eric Karkovack.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n<h3>1. What is Custom Web Design?<\/h3>\n<p>Custom Web Design refers to a tailored web development process that aims to create a unique and personalized web experience, addressing specific business needs and audience preferences.<\/p>\n\n<h3>2. Why is AI often perceived as more confident than it should be?<\/h3>\n<p>AI is programmed to provide responses with assurance, which can mislead users into trusting incorrect information due to its confident delivery.<\/p>\n\n<h3>3. Can AI replace human web designers?<\/h3>\n<p>While AI can assist with tasks in web design, it cannot fully replace human designers, as creativity and emotional understanding are critical in design.<\/p>\n\n<h3>4. How can AI improve its responses?<\/h3>\n<p>AI can enhance its reliability by providing citations, warning of potential pitfalls, and soliciting user feedback for more accurate responses.<\/p>\n\n<h3>5. Why is critical thinking important when using AI?<\/h3>\n<p>Critical thinking helps users assess the validity of AI-generated information, ensuring better decisions and tailored solutions rather than following them blindly.<\/p>\n\n<p><br\/>Top<\/p><\/code><\/pre>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Confidence Conundrum: AI and Our Perception of Accuracy <p>Confidence is a funny thing. I struggled with it as a child. I didn\u2019t believe I was good enough to excel in school or athletics. Even so, I was a terrific partner in pop-culture trivia.<\/p> <p>Growing up to be a Grumpy Designer came with a boost […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":18003,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/speckyboy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ai-confidence-thumb.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18002","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-custom-web-design"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18002"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18002\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18004,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18002\/revisions\/18004"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18003"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kmfinfotech.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}