Who do you want to be?

Episode 35: Why We Miss the “Nice” ChatGPT

Abha Malpani Naismith & Sabine Karunanithy

In this episode, we explore a surprising shift in public response to the latest version of ChatGPT. With GPT-5 now more emotionally neutral and robotic, many users are missing the overly friendly, almost “therapist-like” tone of earlier versions. But what does that say about how we're using AI—and what we’re missing in our human relationships?

Join hosts Abha and Sabine as they unpack:

  •  The rise (and fall) of the “sycophantic” ChatGPT
  •  Why people relied on it for emotional support and validation
  •  The risk of parasocial relationships with AI
  •  How self-awareness can help us avoid over-dependence on tech
  •  Why human connection still matters most

Whether you’re using AI to get things done or to get through the day, this episode will invite you to pause and reflect:

Who do you want to be in a world where technology is always available—but real connection isn't?