You’ve heard of behavioral economics — nudges, dopamine hits, loss aversion. But what happens when artificial intelligence learns to use those tactics better than we do?

In this episode, we dive into the unsettling intersection of AI and behavioral science, where personalized algorithms aren’t just optimizing for engagement — they’re reverse-engineering your psychology.

From TikTok’s hyper-addictive For You page to the subtle manipulations of dynamic pricing and A/B-tested checkout flows, we explore how AI systems are quietly shaping your decisions — and sometimes, exploiting them.

We’ll unpack:

• How AI "learns" what makes you click, buy, scroll, and stay hooked
• Why this isn’t just about ads, but about autonomy and free will
• What researchers and ethicists are saying about consent in the age of algorithmic manipulation

It’s not just manipulation — it’s optimization at scale. And it’s happening whether you notice or not.References:

• ACM Digital Library (2023). Dark Patterns and Algorithmic Design in Online Retail.
• Harvard Business Review (2020). How Companies Are Using Behavioral Economics to Create Addictive Products.
• IEEE Spectrum (2024). How A/B Testing Is Being Supercharged by AI in Digital Platforms.
• Lades, L.K., & Delaney, L. (2020). Nudge FOR Good. Behavioural Public Policy.
• MIT Technology Review (2022). How TikTok Figures Out Your Deepest Desires.
• Mozilla Foundation (2022). YouTube Regrets: The Algorithmic Trap.
• Nature Machine Intelligence (2023). Reinforcement Learning and the Ethics of Persuasive AI.
• Royal Society Open Science (2023). Short-form Video Algorithms and Behavioral Loops.
• Sunstein, C.R. (2015). The Ethics of Nudging. Yale Journal on Regulation.
• The Verge (2023). Etsy and Amazon’s New AI A/B Testing Strategies.
• Wall Street Journal (2021). Inside TikTok’s Algorithm: A WSJ Investigation.
• Yeung, K. (2017). ‘Hypernudge’: Big Data as a Mode of Regulation by Design. Information, Communication & Society.

You’re doing more, but feeling less. That’s not failure — it’s a flaw in the system.

This episode breaks down the paradox of modern productivity and why getting more done doesn’t always feel good. Plus: a reframe to help you step off the hamster wheel.

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Sources from this episode:

• Whillans, A. V., & Dunn, E. W. (2021). Valuing time over money is associated with greater happiness. Journal of Consumer Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucab003

• Leroy, S. (2009). Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between tasks. OBHDP, 109(2), 168–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2009.04.002

• Gershon, I. (2011). Neoliberal agency. Current Anthropology, 52(4), 537–555. https://doi.org/10.1086/660866

We overvalue things we build — even if they’re flawed. This quick drop explores the IKEA Effect, and why letting go of what we built is sometimes the bravest thing we can do.

Sources:

• Norton, Mochon & Ariely (2012) – "The IKEA Effect"

• https://hbr.org/2012/01/the-ikea-effect