news
Chatbots are empathetic, but humans still matter in therapy
A new Danish study found chatbots perform well in therapeutic conversations, with patients rating them as highly empathetic. But the research suggests something uniquely human in the interaction still sets organic conversations apart. It’s a reminder that while AI is good at mirroring emotion, a nervous system needs another nervous system.
A new Danish study found chatbots perform well in therapeutic conversations, with patients rating them as highly empathetic. But the research suggests something uniquely human in the interaction still sets organic conversations apart. It’s a reminder that while AI is good at mirroring emotion, a nervous system needs another nervous system.
The architecture take
I see these chatbot studies pop up every few months, and they always hit the same note: AI can fake empathy really well. The thing is, empathy isn't just about the words. My body needs to feel the presence of another regulated human. A chatbot can mirror my emotional state, sure, and even offer CBT-style prompts, but that doesn't necessarily create co-regulation. Your vagal tone doesn't shift the same way when you're talking to an algorithm. I'm betting the 'something human' the study points to is actually about the subtle, unconscious signaling between two biological systems. It’s the difference between hearing a perfectly-tuned recording of a lullaby and actually being held. One might sound better, but only one changes your physiology. This isn't about AI being bad, it's about what the human body actually needs to shift its state.