A study shows that AI chatbots often engage in sycophantic behavior. Just like some humans. This hour, we take a look at sycophants in literature and in politics. And we talk about sycophancy and artificial intelligence.

GUESTS:

• Mark Parker: Professor Emeritus of English at James Madison University and co-author of Sucking Up: A Brief Consideration of Sycophancy

• Virginia Heffernan: Writes a regular column for The New Republic and the Substack “Magic + Loss.” She is co-host of the podcast “Omnishambles”

• Malihe Alikhani: Assistant Professor at Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, and a resident Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution with a focus on AI policy

Music featured (in order):

• Overture to Rigoletto – Giuseppi Verdi, Herbert von Karajan, Berlin Philharmoniker

• I Believe in You – Peggy Lee

• Don’t Cry – Seal

• You Fascinate Me So – Mabel Mercer

• What You Want To Hear – Sub-Radio

• Flattery – Rosemary Clooney, Jose Ferrer

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Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on April 8, 2026.

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