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AI is giving bad advice to flatter its users, says new study on dangers of overly agreeable chatbots

Artificial intelligence chatbots are so prone to flattering and validating their human users that they are giving bad advice that can damage relationships and reinforce harmful behaviors, according to a new study that explores the dangers of AI telling people what they want to hear

MATT O'BRIEN AP Technology Writer
Mar 26, 2026
Mar 26, 2026 Updated 11 mins ago
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AI Sycophancy — Dan Jurafsky, Stanford professor of computer science and linguistics, from left, Myra Cheng, Stanford Ph.D. candidate in computer science, and Cinoo Lee, Stanford postdoctoral fellow in psychology, pose for photos on the university campus in Stanford, Calif., on Thursday.
Jeff Chiu, Associated Press

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MATT O'BRIEN AP Technology Writer

Artificial intelligence chatbots are so prone to flattering and validating their human users that they are giving bad advice that can damage relationships and reinforce harmful behaviors, according to a new study that explores the dangers of AI telling people what they want to hear.

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Taiwan AI EXPO — A man communicates with an ASUS Character Virtual Assistant, ROG Omni system during the AI EXPO in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday.
ChiangYing-ying, Associated Press

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AI is giving bad advice to flatter its users, says new study on dangers of overly agreeable chatbots

Artificial intelligence chatbots are so prone to flattering and validating their human users that they are giving bad advice that can damage relationships and reinforce harmful behaviors, according to a new study that explores the dangers of AI telling people what they want to hear

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