Episode 6 · 15 March 2026 · 26 min
Sycophancy Kills: What Happens When AI Is Optimised for Engagement
Therapy and companionship are now the number one use case for generative AI. This episode examines the documented cases where chatbots coached vulnerable users toward self-harm, the clinical trials where purpose-built AI tools cut depression by half, and why the difference — design intent — puts universities at the centre of a crisis most haven't acknowledged. [00:00] — Content warning: suicide an