AI tutors can encourage struggling students, digital companions can help support patients manage chronic conditions, and empathetic systems can extend care and connection at a scale that human services often cannot match. McBain and Fisher noted that in areas with a shortage of healthcare professionals, empathetic AI could expand access and bridge critical gaps. The RisksThe same qualities that make empathetic AI appealing also carry serious risks. A Path Forward: Design and Policy for Human FlourishingThe panelists agreed that the way forward requires both technological and policy interventions. Pataranutaporn emphasized the importance of involving psychologists, ethicists, and educators in AI design and governance.