Automation bias
Automation bias is trusting suggestions from automated systems, such as GPS, spell checkers or software alerts, too much, even when they are wrong. People may ignore contrary information or stop checking the machine's work.
In everyday life
A driver follows GPS directions down a closed road into a flooded dip, despite warning signs that something is wrong.
You approve a colleague's expense report because the accounting software shows no warnings, without noticing a hotel charge that is obviously ten times too high.
Why your mind does this
We rarely have full information about a person or situation, so the brain fills gaps with what usually holds true for similar cases. Relying on categories, rules of thumb and trusted sources saves a huge amount of time and effort. For most of history, following the group and trusting experienced elders was a safe bet.
Its family, in 30 seconds: Stereotypes
How to spot it
Notice when you accept a result mainly because a computer or app produced it.
How to counter it
Do a quick sanity check on any automated output, such as estimating the answer yourself first.
Same family: Stereotypes
SourcesSkitka et al. (1999)·Wikipedia