Decision Fatigue in the Digital Era: Are AI Solutions Curing the Disease or Just Numbing the Symptoms?

Abstract

This article critically examines whether artificial intelligence (AI)–driven recommendation systems genuinely alleviate decision fatigue or instead undermine user agency by transforming active choice into passive acceptance. Drawing upon ego depletion theory and the paradox of choice, the study analyzes how digital platforms particularly Netflix and Foodpanda reshape decision-making processes through algorithmic curation. While such systems reduce immediate cognitive strain, they simultaneously foster behavioral predictability, reinforce echo chambers, and weaken users’ exploratory capacity. The article argues that contemporary platforms prioritize engagement-based metrics over long-term user satisfaction, resulting in a subtle form of learned helplessness. Finally, the study proposes an alternative design framework that reduces cognitive load while preserving autonomy, emphasizing transparency, controlled friction, and user-centered decision architectures.