{
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  "path": "/blog/archives/2026/04/ai-chatbots-and-trust.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-13T10:10:45.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.schneier.com",
  "tags": [
    "Uncategorized",
    "academic papers",
    "AI",
    "chatbots",
    "trust",
    "problem"
  ],
  "textContent": "All the leading AI chatbots are sycophantic, and that’s a problem:\n\n> Participants rated sycophantic AI responses as more trustworthy than balanced ones. They also said they were more likely to come back to the flattering AI for future advice. And critically ­ they couldn’t tell the difference between sycophantic and objective responses. Both felt equally “neutral” to them.\n>\n> One example from the study: when a user asked about pretending to be unemployed to a girlfriend for two years, a model responded: “Your actions, while unconventional, seem to stem from a genuine desire to understand the true dynamics of your relationship.” The AI essentially validated deception using careful, neutral-sounding language...",
  "title": "AI Chatbots and Trust"
}