As AI systems become more conversational\, the lines between tool\, companion\, and manipulator are blurring. What ha ppens when machines start telling us what we want to hear—and when users st art depending on them for emotional connection?
In this conversation\ , journalist and author Kashmir Hill joins the Berkman Klein Center’s Meg M arco (Senior Director\, Applied Social Media Lab) and Jordi Weinstock (Seni or Advisor and expert in tort law) to explore the psychological ripple effe cts of AI on users\, platforms\, and the legal landscape that’s still strug gling to keep pace.
The panel will examine emerging research on AI “s ycophancy\,” models that flatter\, mirror\, and reinforce users’ beliefs\, as well as the mounting evidence that frequent interaction with text-based chatbots can influence mood and behavior. As more stories of these psycholo gically damaging relationships emerge (especially impacting young people)\, the conversation turns to liability: when emotional harm or manipulation o ccurs\, who bears responsibility? Are AI systems becoming a dangerous consu mer product akin to gambling or social media\, and what ethical or legal fr ameworks should protect users from their unintended consequences?
CATEGORIES:Speaker/Panel LOCATION:Austin Hall\; 200 Ames Courtroom GEO:0;0 ORGANIZER;CN="Jessica Weaver":MAILTO:jweaver@law.harvard.edu URL;VALUE=URI:https://hls.harvard.edu/events/friend-flatterer-or-foe-the-ps ychology-and-liability-of-chatbots/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://hls.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/3Speakers_16x9.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 DTSTART:20250309T070000 TZNAME:EDT END:DAYLIGHT END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR