E70 Credibility and Appropriateness in AI-Based Simulation as Empathy Training Tools (Short paper) While the VP can generate rich material for practice, the social workers saw the human trainer as the primary MKO who must contextualize AI outputs, restore nuance, and transform transcripts into meaningful learning experiences. This suggests that, in line with sociocultural perspectives, AI in this domain is best positioned as a mediating tool within a hybrid pedagogical model. While this study highlighted the limitations of the current simulations, some of these limitations may be addressed through more rigorous prompt engineering. A key question moving forward is which limitations are amenable to improved prompting, and which are intrinsic to present-day LLMs' architecture. References Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa Gómez-León, M. I. (2022). Development of empathy through social emotional artificial intelligence. Papeles Del Psicólogo, 43(3), 218–224. Hartley, M. T., & Tarvydas, V. M. (2022). The professional practice of rehabilitation counseling. Springer Publishing Company. Kirkeby-Hinrup, A., & Stenseke, J. (2025). The psychology of LLM interactions: The uncanny valley and other minds. Journal of Psychology and AI, 1(1), 2457627. Komasawa, N., & Yokohira, M. (2023). Simulation-based education in the artificial intelligence era. Cureus, 15(6). Levkovich, I., Haber, Y., Levi-Belz, Y., & Elyoseph, Z. (2025). A step toward the future? Evaluating GenAI QPR simulation training for mental health gatekeepers. Frontiers in Medicine, 12, 1599900. Liaw, S. Y., Tan, J. Z., Lim, S., Zhou, W., Yap, J., Ratan, R., Ooi, S. L., Wong, S. J., Seah, B., & Chua, W. L. (2023). Artificial intelligence in virtual reality simulation for interprofessional communication training: Mixed method study. Nurse Education Today, 122, 105718. Pira, G. L., Ruini, C., Vescovelli, F., Baños, R., & Ventura, S. (2025). Could Empathy Be Taught? The Role of Advanced Technologies to Foster Empathy in Medical Students and Healthcare Professionals: A Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Systems, 49(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-025-02144-9 Reeves, B., & Nass, C. (1996). The media equation: How people treat computers, television, and new media like real people. Cambridge, UK, 10(10), 19-36. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes (Vol. 86). Harvard university press. Zeng, Y., Brown, C., & Rounsevell, M. (2025). Too Human to Model: The Uncanny Valley of LLMs in Social Simulation—When Generative Language Agents Misalign with Modelling Principles. arXiv Preprint arXiv:2507.06310.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mjk0MjAwOQ==