Feeling right vs being right

Types of sycophancy - face work framework

1. active - validate the choice and praises it

2. passive - balanced view points, doesn't challenge the choice, stays respectful

3. neutral - presents both sides

active and passive protects users face -> Asian!

31 participants in user study having conversations with AI chat bots about very difficult decisions.

Sycompathic AI gives confidence boosts

Passive sycophany is seen as insincere, implicit endorsment

friction is a feature, not flaw -> it ultimately preserves trust