Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), together with persistent gaps in access to reliable emotional support, have positioned AI as an increasingly prominent source of emotional assistance. However, most AI-based emotional support applications and prior research focus on one-on-one interactions between users and a single AI agent, leaving the potential advantages of alternative support configurations largely unexplored. Drawing on social support and support group theory, this research examines whether AI-based emotional support delivered by a group of AI agents (group AI support) can constitute a more effective support form than single-agent support (single AI support). We propose that group AI support enhances users' perceived support efficacy, that this effect operates by strengthening users' connectedness with the AI system, and that the composition of support types within AI groups further shapes support outcomes. Three experiments provide convergent support for these claims. By identifying when and why group AI emotional support outperforms single AI support, this work advances theoretical understanding of AI-based emotional support and provides actionable guidance for the design of AI support systems.

翻译：人工智能（AI）的进步，加之可靠情感支持获取途径的持续不足，使得AI日益成为重要的情感援助来源。然而，大多数基于AI的情感支持应用及先前研究都聚焦于用户与单个AI代理之间的一对一交互，而替代性支持配置的潜在优势在很大程度上尚未得到探索。借鉴社会支持与支持群体理论，本研究探讨了由一组AI代理提供的基于AI的情感支持（群体AI支持）是否能够构成比单代理支持（单一AI支持）更有效的支持形式。我们提出，群体AI支持能提升用户感知到的支持效能，这一效应通过增强用户与AI系统的连接感来实现，并且AI群体内部支持类型的构成进一步塑造了支持结果。三项实验为这些主张提供了聚合性证据。通过识别群体AI情感支持何时以及为何优于单一AI支持，本研究推进了对基于AI的情感支持的理论理解，并为AI支持系统的设计提供了可操作的指导。