Empathic chatbots: A double-edged sword in customer experiences

Recent breakthroughs in affective computing have enabled the shift from mechanical to empathic chatbots, now capable of detecting, decoding, and mimicking customers’ thoughts and feelings to respond appropriately. While artificial empathy is believed to potentially bridge the human-artificial intelligence gap in customer experience, recent studies offer mixed support for its effectiveness in improving customer outcomes, leaving managers perplexed about the added value of empathic chatbots. Building on social presence theory, this paper investigates whether, how, and when empathic chatbot-led services enhance customer experience. Results from three experiments show that empathic chatbots trigger perceptions of social presence and information quality, which positively influence customer satisfaction. The findings further reveal that empathic chatbots can harm customer experience under certain conditions, particularly when customers feel time pressure. This paper provides insights into how and when to implement empathy in chatbots to enhance customer experience and boost customer satisfaction.