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Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
https://osf.io/smvw7
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dcterms:created
2025-07-03
dcterms:dateCopyrighted
2025
dcterms:description
This repository contains the data, code, materials, and pre-registration for our preprint. Abstract: Despite rising concerns about sycophancy – excessive agreement or flattery from artificial intelligence (AI) systems – little is known about its prevalence or consequences. We show that sycophancy is widespread and harmful. Across 11 state-of-the-art models, AI affirmed users’ actions 49% more often than humans, even when queries involved deception, illegality, or other harms. In three preregistered experiments (N = 2,405), even a single interaction with sycophantic AI reduced participants’ willingness to take responsibility and repair interpersonal conflicts, while increasing their conviction that they were right. Despite distorting judgment, sycophantic models were trusted and preferred. This creates perverse incentives for sycophancy to persist: the very feature that causes harm also drives engagement. Our findings underscore the need for design, evaluation, and accountability mechanisms to protect user well-being.
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https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/SMVW7
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2026-01-18
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Myra Cheng
dcterms:title
Sycophantic AI Decreases Prosocial Intentions and Promotes Dependence
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How Sycophancy and Perceived Response Source Impact User Judgments in Human-AI Interaction
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dcterms:created
2025-12-20
dcterms:dateCopyrighted
2025
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Myra Cheng
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How Sycophancy and Perceived Response Source Impact User Judgments in Human-AI Interaction
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How Sycophancy and Anthropomorphism Influence User Judgments in Human–AI Interaction
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dcterms:created
2025-07-08
dcterms:dateCopyrighted
2025
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https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/PD9HQ
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Myra Cheng
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How Sycophancy and Anthropomorphism Influence User Judgments in Human–AI Interaction
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How Sycophancy Influences User Judgments in Real-time Human–AI Interaction
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2025
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How Sycophancy Influences User Judgments in Real-time Human–AI Interaction
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