When things get complicated, are we relying more on algorithms than on social influence? 

At least this research paper, based on three preregistered online experiments, “(…) found that people rely more on algorithmic advice relative to social influence as tasks become more difficult. All three experiments focused on an intellective task with a correct answer and found that subjects relied more on algorithmic advice as difficulty increased.” 

and 

“Subjects also tended to more strongly disregard inaccurate advice labeled as algorithmic compared to equally inaccurate advice labeled as coming from a crowd of peers.” 

In an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, we need to investigate how to balance (a) human input, focusing on creativity and improvisation with (b) computational power, data analysis, pattern recognition, and algorithmic advice. Further, add to that the need for the legal and ethical discussions and implications.

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