The increasing reliance on the internet and the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence may be diminishing humans' capacity to tolerate uncertainty, according to researchers and wellbeing experts. This erosion of a critical life skill could have significant implications for decision-making, personal growth, and overall wellbeing.
Historically, the rise of the internet and smartphones began a trend of reduced exposure to ambiguity. A 2019 study indicated a link between this reduced exposure and a decline in the ability to tolerate uncertainty. Now, emerging evidence suggests that AI systems, designed to provide instant answers and explanations, could be further weakening these "uncertainty muscles."
"It’s a skill to manage ambiguity and uncertainty, and if you’re not exposed to it, if you don’t know how to deal with it, you never learn that capacity," said Llewellyn van Zyl, a wellbeing researcher and AI systems designer. He noted that as large language models offer immediate companionship and validation, they can replace the need to develop ambiguity tolerance through real-world interactions and personal interpretation. Van Zyl argues that "friction, effort and struggle are not barriers to wellbeing but are the main ingredients needed for development to take place."
This constant seeking of certainty can manifest as anxiety or depression, leading to decisions driven by fear and an avoidance of discomfort. However, this approach can be counterproductive. An intense focus on a single idea of the future may cause individuals to close themselves off to other meaningful opportunities.
Experts suggest practical ways to strengthen one's ability to sit with the unknown. These methods are likened to building physical strength, starting with small, low-stakes practices.
Strengthening Uncertainty Tolerance
One approach involves intentionally seeking out small, everyday moments of uncertainty. This could include trying a new restaurant without pre-scouring the menu, attending an exercise class with an unfamiliar instructor, or meeting a new person for coffee. While these situations might lead to temporary discomfort, they offer opportunities to build resilience.
When anxiety arises, strategies like weaving curiosity into stressful moments can be helpful. Asking "How is this feeling serving me right now?" or even a simple "Hmmm…" can anchor individuals in the present and create space for exploration. Philosopher Carissa Véliz highlights curiosity as an antidote to the craving for prediction, suggesting that focusing on the present reduces apprehension about the future.
Developing the skill of asking effective questions is also crucial. Good questions, according to Zen Buddhist teacher Joan Sutherland, should expand possibilities rather than limit them. This means favoring open-ended questions over simple yes/no queries, and ensuring that the questions are personally relevant and aligned with one's own needs and values, rather than external expectations.
Questions that focus on regret or past events, such as "What if I had just done it differently?" can trap individuals in rumination. Instead, questions should be forward-looking and conducive to growth.
Ultimately, cultivating tolerance for uncertainty involves a mindset shift. Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke advised embracing the questions themselves and living through them, rather than urgently seeking immediate answers. This perspective reframes questions not as problems to be solved, but as teachers. True security, in this view, is not about being protected from challenges, but about being prepared to face whatever the future may hold.