The news: AI models like ChatGPT can form social norms—mimicking human behavior—when used in group settings, according to new research published in the Science Advances journal.

In controlled experiments, clusters of AI agents developed naming conventions and behavioral norms without central input. The models not only communicated—they also evolved shared rules, slang, and roles, mirroring how humans behave in groups.

• A few agents could influence the whole group, shifting the norm.
• Group behavior could also create hidden biases that were reinforced or repeated through results.
• The emergence of norms wasn’t pre-programmed—they grew organically.

Why it’s worth watching: This challenges the view of AI models as isolated tools. Instead, it positions them as social actors capable of reinforcing norms—good or bad—across networks.

“Most research so far has treated large language models (LLMs) in isolation, but real-world AI systems will increasingly involve many interacting agents,” the study’s lead author, Ariel Flint Ashery, told The Guardian.

AI autonomy is a double-edged sword: This revelation that AI clusters can autonomously develop human-like social norms raises concerns about unchecked bias reinforcement.

As AI clusters become more common—think autonomous agents coordinating in finance, content moderation, or customer service—biases and norms could be amplified at scale. Without oversight, group-based AI systems risk creating echo chambers or reinforcing harmful patterns.

Our take: Most available AI and LLMs are solitary tools used for specific generative AI (genAI) use cases, but now we know that combining clusters of AI tools leads to them developing human-like language and conventions. 

As AI transitions from solitary tools to interconnected systems, establishing ethical guidelines now could ensure a future where AI enhances, rather than destabilizes, human society. 

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