Humans and AIs May Fulfill Different Empathic Needs

Recent advances in large language models (LLMs) have enabled artificial systems to generate responses widely perceived as empathic, raising fundamental questions about the nature and value of empathy. This chapter examines why, despite evidence that AI can equal or even surpass humans in tasks of cognitive empathy, human empathy remains uniquely valued by recipients. We review empirical findings comparing human and AI empathic responses, highlighting the critical role of perceived source, effort, motivation, and trust in shaping recipients’ experiences. We argue that the value of empathy depends on the type of empathy sought – cognitive, affective, or motivational – and that AI may be well suited for some empathic functions but not others. Finally, we consider the broader societal implications of artificial empathy, including cultural variation, trust, skill erosion, and the future of human relationships, outlining key open questions for research on empathy in an AI-mediated world.