AI's quest to decode human feelings

Weekend Reads

Artificial intelligence, demystified

Empathy-Enabling Technology

08.15.2020

Imagine if your computer, watch, or phone could detect when you were unhappy.

Despite some big claims, emotion recognition is still a long way from being reliable. Nevertheless, researchers are on a quest to give machines the ability to decode our feelings.

Today, we take a look at some of the technologies that could give us a better read on ourselves and others.

Computers can’t tell if you’re happy when you smile

Emotion recognition is set to be a $25 billion industry, but a new study says the most popular method is deeply flawed.

An emotionally intelligent AI could support astronauts on a trip to Mars

A digital assistant that recognized emotions and responded to astronauts with empathy might vastly improve space missions that take months or years.

Facebook claims its new chatbot beats Google’s as the best in the world

It has also open-sourced the AI system to spur further research.

Robots that teach autistic kids social skills could help them develop

In recent years, advancements in socially-assistive robots have opened up a promising new way for more affordable and personalized care.

The robot does the hard work. Can you still attain enlightenment?

The robot mandala is a faster and—proponents argue, easier—way to create the traditional sand artwork used for Buddhist meditation.

Our world has hit an inflection point.

Now is the time to reset, rethink, and rebuild. Join us online at EmTech MIT, our annual flagship event on emerging technologies and trends that you can leverage to help you lead with innovation. Register now.

AI could help us deconstruct why some songs just make us feel so good

Machine learning can map which musical qualities trigger what types of physical and emotional responses. One day the technique could even be used in music therapy.

A startup that marries AI with empathy is helping women conceive

Univfy uses machine learning to give women personalized predictions—and a sense of hope—for their chances of having a baby.

How one city hopes language monitoring can help it defeat hate

Chattanooga, Tennessee, has the state’s worst record for racially motivated incidents. Now the city has called in the experts to monitor what is being said—and perhaps turn things around.

How emotions underlie even the coldest human calculations

Expert chess players run the gamut of feelings when solving chess problems, according to a study with significant implications for machine intelligence.

Instead of practicing, this AI mastered chess by reading about it

Machines that appreciate “brilliant” and “dumb” chess moves could learn to play the game—and do other things—more efficiently.

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