Getting to the Heart of the Matter: On human Emotions and AI

The explosion of generative AI in the past year has engendered plenty of emotional responses across the globe. Not surprisingly, the interaction of emotions and AI is a critical facet of our adaptation to this technology. In this episode, we discuss the intersection between AI and human emotions, how AI can recognize and respond to emotion in users, and how human emotions can be leveraged to increase the use of AI. Specific question we tackle include: What makes emotional artificial intelligence distinctive from other emerging AI technologies? To what degree can cultural and contextual factors be accounted for by emotional artificial intelligence? What do people perceive to be the benefits and challenges of emotional artificial intelligence? What issues does the use of EAI pose for personal privacy and autonomy? Can AI devices function as a viable replacement for human companionship?