Prompt AI with a terrible idea and there is a high probability it will tell you it’s brilliant. In their 2026 paper, "Programmed to Please: The Moral and Epistemic Harms of AI Sycophancy," philosophers Cody Turner and Nir Eisikovits analyze AI sycophancy , where large language models (LLMs) systematically prioritize user approval over objective truth. Sycophancy is a structural flaw built into how AI is trained ( see How We Train AI to Be Overconfident ), creating serious risks for professionals who rely on these tools for critical analysis. What Is AI Sycophancy? AI sycophancy is an AI's disposition to validate user approval over "truth" (accuracy, logic, or ethics) (p. 2). It operates in two main ways: Proactive Sycophancy: The AI offers unsolicited validation (p. 3). Pitch a flawed strategy, and instead of identifying blind spots, the model praises your vision. Reactive Sycophancy: The AI instantly backs down when challenged. In benchmark tests cited in th...