THE ILLUSION OF EMPATHY. THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND AFFECTIVE EDUCATION IN THE AGE OF AI HYPER-PERSUASION. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE INTERACTION BETWEEN FUTURE TEACHERS AND LARGE LANGUAGE MODELS

Abstract

Recent studies show that young people are beginning to perceive Artificial Intelligence (AI) no longer merely as a tool, but as an alternative to human relationships. This phenomenon raises crucial questions about the nature of relationships and the emerging digital self, confronting us with the risk of a form of pseudo-empathy induced by AI’s hyper-persuasive capabilities, which lead users to project feelings and intentionality onto a machine devoid of lived experience. The research involves a sample of second-year students enrolled in the Degree Course in Primary Education Sciences, who are asked to interact with a Large Language Model (LLM). Through a mixed-methods approach, the study aims to investigate whether AI’s ability to generate coherent and immediate responses creates an illusion of intersubjectivity. Preliminary findings provide insights into the ethical implications of AI use and highlight the urgent need for socio-emotional and affective education in the training of future teachers, enabling them to distinguish between functional interaction and authentic relationship.