Myths & Misconceptions About AI: What You Should Know

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an everyday part of life in Malta and around the world. From voice assistants to predictive text, AI is helping us in countless ways. But with so much information (and misinformation) out there, it’s easy to misunderstand what AI is—and what it isn’t.

In this article, we explore some of the most common myths and misconceptions about AI, and explain what’s really going on behind the scenes.

​“AI is Always Right” – False
While AI can analyse vast amounts of data and perform complex tasks quickly, it is far from perfect.

AI systems learn from the data they are given. If that data is incomplete, biased, or poorly selected, AI can make poor decisions. A now-famous example comes from Amazon, where an AI recruiting tool was found to favour male applicants over female ones—simply because it had been trained on data from a male-dominated industry.

Even with high-quality data, AI needs constant monitoring and updates to ensure it works fairly and reliably. That’s why strong AI governance is essential to reduce risks and ensure ethical use of the technology.

Further reading:
IBM: Reflecting on AI Ethics
BBC: Amazon AI Bias
The Verge: Amazon AI Recruitment Bias

​“AI Knows Where All Its Data Comes From” – Not Exactly

AI systems often rely on huge datasets gathered from many sources. But not all of those sources are clear, reliable, or ethical.
According to IBM’s AI Risk Atlas, without transparent and standardised methods for tracing where data comes from, there’s no way to be sure it’s accurate or even legal to use. This lack of data transparency can introduce risks and reduce public trust in AI systems.

Further reading:
IBM: Transparency and Data Provenance

​“AI Has Emotions” – No, It Doesn’t

AI can simulate human-like conversation and even appear to respond with personality or emotion, but it doesn’t actually feel anything.
Unlike humans, AI lacks empathy, intuition, and emotional understanding. It processes information based on patterns, not feelings. When an AI “responds” in a way that seems emotional, it's simply mimicking responses based on what it has learned from data. Human intelligence includes creativity, moral judgement, and emotional awareness. These are qualities AI does not and cannot replicate.

Further reading:
Wired: Chatbots and Emotion
Maryville University: AI vs Human Intelligence
TechTarget: Human vs Artificial Intelligence

​“AI Will Replace All Human Jobs” – Not Quite

It’s true that some roles have been automated or reshaped by AI. But AI is not replacing the entire workforce. Instead, it’s transforming jobs and creating entirely new career paths. For example, AI tools help customer service representatives by answering simple queries, allowing humans to focus on more complex issues. In healthcare, doctors use AI to analyse scans more quickly. In finance, AI can detect fraud faster than any individual ever could. And, more importantly perhaps, AI is opening doors to new careers:

​• AI Trainers who teach machines how to improve;
​• Prompt Engineers who design better ways for humans to communicate with AI;
​• AI Ethics Officers who ensure AI systems are safe, fair, and responsible;
​• AI is a tool—and like any tool, its impact depends on how we choose to use it.

Further reading:
McKinsey: Future of Work
Pew Research: AI and the Future of Humans
Balto: AI in Real Life

​“Humans and AI Can’t Work Together” – They Already Do

AI is not meant to compete with humans—it’s here to assist us.

From doctors to delivery services, from engineers to educators, professionals are already using AI to improve efficiency and accuracy. These tools help with tasks like analysing data, predicting trends, and providing instant information, allowing people to make better decisions.
The future of work is collaborative. AI helps us do more, not less.

In conclusion, understanding the real capabilities—and limitations—of AI is crucial. By clearing up myths and learning the facts, we can become more informed as users and decision-makers.

AI is a tool. It can be powerful, helpful, and even life-changing—but only when developed and used with care, transparency, and ethics.