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Divergent patterns of probabilistic reasoning in humans and GPT-5

  • Pegah Imannezhad
  • , Emmanuel M. Pothos*
  • , Andy J. Wills
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • St George's University of London

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Large Language Models (LLMs) such as GPT‑5 are increasingly consulted for advice across a wide range of domains, yet little is known about how their probability judgments compare to those of humans. This study examined GPT‑5’s adherence to classical probability rules, focusing on conjunction fallacies, disjunction fallacies, and violations of binary complementarity. Using a large dataset on human probabilistic judgments, in which participants displayed multiple types of fallacies, we tested GPT‑5 on the same task and with matched participant profiles. GPT‑5 produced only single conjunction or disjunction fallacies and showed near‑perfect compliance with binary complementarity constraints. Its overall response pattern aligned with predictions of early quantum‑probabilistic models rather than more recent variants incorporating noise. These findings suggest that GPT‑5 implements a more coherent and internally consistent form of probabilistic reasoning compared to naïve human participants.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1782184
JournalFrontiers in Psychology
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Mar 2026

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Psychology

Keywords

  • AI participants (AI subjects)
  • complementarity
  • conjunction fallacy
  • disjunction fallacy
  • GPt-5
  • human vs. AI cognition
  • large language models (LLMs)
  • probabilistic reasoning

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