Artificial Empathy and Spiritual Care: Limits of AI-Mediated Compassion in Chaplaincy

This article examines whether artificial intelligence can genuinely participate in practices of care within healthcare settings and what implications this development has for healthcare chaplaincy. Drawing on recent research on artificial empathy, the paper argues that AI can support caregiving practices instrumentally but cannot replace the interpersonal and relational dimensions constitutive of authentic care. The analysis introduces the concept of cognitive safety as a framework for evaluating AI-mediated interactions in contexts of vulnerability. Particular attention is given to empathy, responsibility, practical wisdom, and relational presence as dimensions that remain irreducibly human. The article concludes that chaplaincy should adopt a model of balanced integration in which AI serves as a supportive tool while preserving the centrality of human encounter, spiritual accompaniment, and moral agency.