Human-Like Epistemic Trust? A Conceptual and Normative Analysis of Conversational AI in Mental Healthcare.

The attribution of human concepts to conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) simulating human characteristics and conversation in psychotherapeutic settings presents significant conceptual and normative challenges. First, this article analyzes the concept of epistemic trust by identifying its p...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:American Journal of Bioethics Vol. 26; no. 5; pp. 85 - 101
Autores principales: Sedlakova, Jana, Lucivero, Federica, Pavarini, Gabriela, Kerasidou, Angeliki
Formato: tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd May2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=193364518&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 193364518
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        15265161
        FKZ
      jtl: American Journal of Bioethics
      issn: 15265161
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: May2026
      vid: 26
      iid: 5
      pid: 377
      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        193364518
        186800074
        193364518
        193364518
        10.1080/15265161.2025.2526734
        193364518
      ppf: 85
      ppct: 16
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Human-Like Epistemic Trust? A Conceptual and Normative Analysis of Conversational AI in Mental Healthcare.
      aug:
        au:
          Sedlakova, Jana
          Lucivero, Federica
          Pavarini, Gabriela
          Kerasidou, Angeliki
        affil: University of Zurich
      sug:
        subj:
          Chatbot Utilization
          Chatbot Ethical Issues
          Psychiatric Care
          Trust
          Psychotherapy
          Therapeutic Alliance
          Phenomenology
          Ontologies
          Technology
      ab: The attribution of human concepts to conversational artificial intelligence (CAI) simulating human characteristics and conversation in psychotherapeutic settings presents significant conceptual and normative challenges. First, this article analyzes the concept of epistemic trust by identifying its problematic conditions when attributed to CAI, arguing for conceptual shift. We propose a conceptual, visual tool to navigate this shift. Second, three conceptualizations of AI are analyzed to understand their influence on the interpretation and evaluation of conceptual shift of epistemic trust and associated risks. We contrast two common AI conceptualizations from literature: a dichotomic account, distinguishing between AI's real and simulated abilities, and a relational account. Finally, we propose a novel approach: conceptualizing AI as a fictional character to combine their strengths, arguing for shifting focus from merely simulating human abilities to addressing CAI's actual strengths and weaknesses. The article sheds light on underlying theoretical assumptions that influence the ethical analysis of CAI.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N