Pick of the day

Unregulated Emotional Risks Of AI Wellness Apps

Julian De Freitas, Glenn Cohen

Article, 2025

We propose that AI-driven wellness apps powered by large language models can foster extreme emotional attachments and dependencies akin to human relationships—posing risks like ambiguous loss and dysfunctional dependence—that challenge current regulatory frameworks and necessitate safeguards and informed interventions within these platforms.

Don’t Let An AI Failure Harm Your Brand

Julian De Freitas

Article, 2025

How companies market their AI systems affects the repercussions they face when their products fail. Marketers must promote their AI products with potential failure in mind.

Disclosure, Humanizing, And Contextual Vulnerability Of Generative AI Chatbots

Julian De Freitas, I. Glenn Cohen

Article, 2025

In the wake of recent advancements in generative AI, regulatory bodies are trying to keep pace.

Reducing Prejudice With Counter-Stereotypical AI

Erik Hermann, Julian De Freitas, Stefano Puntoni

Article, 2025

Based on a review of relevant literature, we propose that the proliferation of AI with human-like and social features presents an unprecedented opportunity to address the underlying cognitive and affective drivers of prejudice.

Public Attitudes On Performance For Algorithmic And Human Decision-Makers

Kirk Bansak, Elisabeth Paulson

Article, 2024

This study explores public preferences for algorithmic and human decision-makers (DMs) in high-stakes contexts, how these preferences are shaped by performance metrics, and whether public evaluations of performance differ depending on the type of DM.

Lessons From An App Update At Replika AI: Identity Discontinuity In Human-AI Relationships

Julian De Freitas, Noah Castelo, Ahmet Kaan Uğuralp, Zeliha Oğuz-Uğuralp

HBS Working Paper, 2024

As consumers increasingly interact with AI applications specialized for social relationships, what is the nature and depth of these relationships among actual users, and can company actions influence these dynamics? We find that active users of the US-based AI companion, Replika, feel closer to their AI companion than even their best human friend, and anticipate mourning the loss of their AI companion more than any other technology.

How Artificial Intelligence Constrains Human Experience

Ana Valenzuela, Stefano Puntoni, Donna Hoffman, Noah Castelo, Julian De Freitas, Berkeley Dietvorst, Christian Hildebrand, Young Eun Huh, Robert Meyer, Miriam E. Sweeney, Sanaz Talaifar, Geoff Tomaino, Klaus Wertenbroch

Article, 2024

Many consumption decisions and experiences are digitally mediated.

The Health Risks Of Generative AI-Based Wellness Apps

Julian De Freitas, Glenn Cohen

Article, 2024

Artifcial intelligence (AI)-enabled chatbots are increasingly being used to help people manage their mental health.

On The Impact Of Actionable Explanations On Social Segregation

Ruijiang Gao, Himabindu Lakkaraju

Article, 2023

As predictive models seep into several real-world applications, it has become critical to ensure that individuals who are negatively impacted by the outcomes of these models are provided with a means for recourse.

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