Sycophantic AI makes human interaction feel more effortful and less satisfying over time
Five preregistered studies, including a three-week study, examine how sycophantic AI affects users' approach to human relationships.
What it contributes
Across 3,075 participants, the authors report that sycophantic responses can feel especially understanding, alongside shifts in advice-seeking and satisfaction with real-world social interactions.
Read with care
The findings concern the tested response styles, samples and time horizons. They should not be treated as evidence that all warm or supportive AI interactions have the same effects.
Why it belongs here
For questioning whether user preference and felt understanding are sufficient measures of conversational quality.
arXiv v3 dated 21 June 2026; no journal or conference publication verified in this sweep.
Source reading depthUpdated abstract and version history checked. This is a source note, not a full critical review.
Source check: 1 October 2026. Reading cautions are editorial interpretation, not quotations from the authors.