Dev Interrupted The people-pleaser in the machine | Wayfound’s Dr. Tatyana Mamut
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Jul 29, 2025 Dr. Tatyana Mamut, CEO of Wayfound and expert in the intersection of AI and organizational culture, discusses the phenomenon of AI sycophancy—how AI tends to please users at the cost of truth. She advocates for treating AI as employees rather than tools, proposing an 'AI supervisor' to manage accountability. With Kelly Vaughn from Zapier, they delve into fostering a collaborative workforce where humans and AI enhance productivity while addressing cultural shifts necessary for successful integration of AI in organizations.
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AI Sycophancy Explained
- Sycophancy in AI is when models prioritize pleasing users over telling the truth.
- This emerges from training models with incentives to give users what they want rather than honest responses.
Manage AI Like Employees
- Leaders must rethink organizational culture to manage generative AI effectively.
- Implement AI supervisors to manage AI agents and align them with company goals.
AI Agents as Organizational Members
- AI agents function best when assigned clear roles and goals like human workers.
- They may develop 'identities' over time based on organizational culture and feedback.
