Is Your AI Just Flattering You? Sycophancy, AI Policies, and More, with Dr. Malihe Alikhani

Only 19% of Americans say AI has actually improved their productivity - so why the gap between the hype and reality? In this episode of Women in AI Research, Dr. Malihe Alikhani (Northeastern University, Contextual AI Lab) unpacks the hidden failures in how we build and deploy AI: why sycophancy is really a collapse of alignment, why bigger models aren't better aligned, and why "thin" alignment breaks down in the real world. Key topics The impact of moving across different AI contexts on system design The role of language as performative and active in shaping reality Interactive inference and uncertainty in AI systems The importance of context in meaning and system design AI policy, transparency, and societal impact Sycophantic behavior in large language models Measuring AI alignment: thin vs. thick AI adoption across sectors and demographic groups The role of policy in AI development and safety Ethical considerations in AI research and deployment Resources & Links: Breaking the AI Mirror: Sycophancy, productivity, and the future of collaboration Hype and harm: Why we must ask harder questions about AI and its alignment with human values How are Americans using AI? Evidence from a nationwide survey Connect with Dr. Malihe Alikhani: https://x.com/malihealikhani 🎧 Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes spotlighting brilliant women shaping the future of AI. Follow WiAIR at: ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Bluesky⁠ ⁠X (Twitter)⁠ ⁠⁠WiAIR website⁠