The risk of empty empathy talk and challenges of automated empathy in healthcare communication
Abstract
Recent studies indicate that large language models outperform humans in empathic performance within text-based healthcare communication. Yet, promoting automated empathy risks fostering "empty empathy talk"-language devoid of relational depth and embodied meaning. Uncritical reliance on automated empathy may weaken clinicians' empathic skills and impair relational quality in patient care, underscoring the need to safeguard authentic empathy in future healthcare through reflective strategies.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Empathy and Medical Education
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Digital Mental Health Interventions
Publication details
- Journal / source
- npj Digital Medicine
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 28 March 2026
- Language
- EN