Great point! ;)

Realizing that the people they’re targeting DO need that is kind of frightening.

They aren't "targeting" per se, at least not in this aspect. I think it's simpler than that. That's what's in their training data, so that's what they respond with.

But it works out just as badly, because there are plenty of insecure people who need that, and the AI gives it to them, with all the "dangerously attached" issues following from that.

They're our 2026 version of tea leaves