What are the similarities and differences between human kindness and chatbot kindness? Being blind to context, chatbot kindness lacks Emerson's discriminating “edge” which is so crucial to human kindness. Human kindness bears evolution’s endorsement, having demonstrated its survival value through the processes of natural selection. What most distinguishes human therapist kindness from its chatbot therapist imitation is its flexibility and discriminating quality. Unlike chatbot kindness, which cannot deviate from its programming or discern the difference between helpful validation and harmful collusion, human therapist kindness reflects judgment, responsibility, and accountability.

Source: New York Times January 06, 2026 15:02 UTC