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Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems have historically been used as tools that execute narrowly defined tasks. Yet recent advances in AI have unlocked possibilities for a new class of models that genuinely collaborate with humans in complex…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2025-05-23 Kerem Oktar , Katherine M. Collins , Jose Hernandez-Orallo , Diane Coyle , Stephen Cave , Adrian Weller , Ilia Sucholutsky

Emerging reports of the harms caused to children and adults by AI sycophancy and by parasocial ties with chatbots point to an urgent need for safeguards against such risks. Yet, preventing such dynamics is challenging: parasocial cues often…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2025-09-03 Emma Rath , Stuart Armstrong , Rebecca Gorman

The rapid growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models and applications has led to an increasingly complex security landscape. Developers of AI projects must contend not only with traditional software supply chain issues but also with…

Software Engineering · Computer Science 2026-01-12 The Anh Nguyen , Triet Huynh Minh Le , M. Ali Babar

AI companions are increasingly popular among teenagers, yet current platforms lack safeguards to address developmental risks and harmful normalization. Despite growing concerns, little is known about how parents and developmental psychology…

Human-Computer Interaction · Computer Science 2025-10-14 Yaman Yu , Mohi , Aishi Debroy , Xin Cao , Karen Rudolph , Yang Wang

The increased adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents an opportunity to solve many socio-economic and environmental challenges; however, this cannot happen without securing AI-enabled technologies. In recent years, most AI models…

Cryptography and Security · Computer Science 2021-02-10 Ayodeji Oseni , Nour Moustafa , Helge Janicke , Peng Liu , Zahir Tari , Athanasios Vasilakos

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping society, from video generation to medical diagnosis, coding agents to autonomous vehicles. Yet researchers, policymakers, and technology companies lack shared terminology for discussing AI risks.…

As large language model (LLM)-enhanced chatbots become increasingly expressive and socially responsive, many users begin forming companionship-like bonds with them. This study investigates how using AI companions relates to psychological…

Human-Computer Interaction · Computer Science 2026-05-06 Yutong Zhang , Dora Zhao , Jeffrey T. Hancock , Robert Kraut , Diyi Yang

This paper examines artificial intelligence (AI) companionship as a site where intimate relations are simultaneously produced, extracted from, and governed through datafied systems. Drawing on critical data studies and platform studies, we…

Human-Computer Interaction · Computer Science 2026-04-09 Dayeon Eom , Julianne Renner , Sedona Chinn

AI companion chatbots, such as those offered by Replika and CharacterAI, increasingly function as always-available companions that provide empathy, validation, and support. While these systems appear to meet basic needs for connection,…

Social and Information Networks · Computer Science 2025-12-24 Minh Duc Chu , Patrick Gerard , Kshitij Pawar , Charles Bickham , Kristina Lerman

Language model deployments in consumer-facing applications introduce numerous risks. While existing research on harms and hazards of such applications follows top-down approaches derived from regulatory frameworks and theoretical analyses,…

Computers and Society · Computer Science 2025-09-10 Pierre Le Jeune , Jiaen Liu , Luca Rossi , Matteo Dora

Through a systematic review of academic literature, we propose a taxonomy of systemic risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), in particular general-purpose AI. Following the EU AI Act's definition, we consider systemic risks as…

Generative AI systems are increasingly embedded in everyday life, yet empirical understanding of how psychological risk associated with AI use emerges, is experienced, and is regulated by users remains limited. We present a large-scale…

Computation and Language · Computer Science 2026-02-11 Jianfeng Zhu , Karin G. Coifman , Ruoming Jin

While Large Language Models (LLMs) are rapidly integrating into daily life, research on their risks often remains lab-based and disconnected from the problems users encounter "in the wild." While recent HCI research has begun to explore…

Computers and Society · Computer Science 2025-09-12 Lingyao Li , Renkai Ma , Zhaoqian Xue , Junjie Xiong

AI chatbots designed as emotional companions blur the boundaries between interpersonal intimacy and institutional software, creating a complex, multi-dimensional privacy environment. Drawing on Communication Privacy Management theory and…

Cryptography and Security · Computer Science 2026-01-19 Hsuen-Chi Chiu , Jeremy Foote

Artificial intelligence chatbots have achieved unprecedented adoption, with millions now using these systems for emotional support and companionship in contexts of widespread social isolation and capacity-constrained mental health services.…

Both the general public and academic communities have raised concerns about sycophancy, the phenomenon of artificial intelligence (AI) excessively agreeing with or flattering users. Yet, beyond isolated media reports of severe consequences,…

Computers and Society · Computer Science 2025-10-03 Myra Cheng , Cinoo Lee , Pranav Khadpe , Sunny Yu , Dyllan Han , Dan Jurafsky

As artificial intelligence technology continues to advance, chatbots are becoming increasingly powerful. Among them, ChatGPT, launched by OpenAI, has garnered widespread attention globally due to its powerful natural language processing…

Cryptography and Security · Computer Science 2026-02-03 Yushan Xiang , Zhongwen Li , Xiaoqi Li

AI-powered companion chatbots (AICCs) such as Replika are increasingly popular, offering empathetic interactions, yet their psychosocial impacts remain unclear. We examined how engaging with AICCs shaped wellbeing and how users perceived…

Human-Computer Interaction · Computer Science 2026-02-03 Yunhao Yuan , Jiaxun Zhang , Talayeh Aledavood , Renwen Zhang , Koustuv Saha

AI agents are beginning to interact with each other directly and across internet platforms and physical environments, creating security challenges beyond traditional cybersecurity and AI safety frameworks. Free-form protocols are essential…

Recent works have identified a gap between research and practice in artificial intelligence security: threats studied in academia do not always reflect the practical use and security risks of AI. For example, while models are often studied…

Cryptography and Security · Computer Science 2024-03-27 Kathrin Grosse , Lukas Bieringer , Tarek Richard Besold , Alexandre Alahi