Can computers feel emotions?
A lot of time, talent, and money has been poured into research centers to make computers think, learn, talk, listen and look like humans. Sometimes, we call it “Machine Learning”. However, one aspect is usually ignored: is it possible for a computer to have feelings? If the goal is to create computers that behave like humans, does that include sentiments?
Empirically, we divide our own behavior into two classes: analytical and emotional. The former takes decisions based on data, making an effort to include all possible alternatives, maximizing benefits while reducing the costs. The latter is more impulsive, and it can’t be explained or reasoned with: it just is.
In computer science, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is related to human analytical capabilities, and it requires data to form patterns and produce a prediction (or an opinion, for that matter). But any form of AI is just a human product, and as such, it is circumscribed by our own limitations. We can’t create something we can’t imagine. Who can possibly conceive a perfect human? How would he or she behave?
We humans need empathy, which is why chatbots, no matter how sophisticated they have come to be, are yet discredited by people. When we have to call a customer support phone line, do we rather talk to a machine or a “human representative”? Thus, if chatbots are to be widely accepted, in addition to provide information, they need to be able to show empathy and yes, feelings.
Emotion Artificial Intelligence (Emotion AI), also known as Affective Computing, is an application of machine learning techniques to provide computers with emotional abilities, both for understanding humans (and reacting accordingly) and showing emotions back to us. If we aim to make computers more human, the two sides of the coin are needed: analytical intelligence and emotions (Picard, 1995).
According to Gartner, Inc., Emotion AI will have a “transformational” market impact in the next five to ten years, provided that the required technology is in place. It includes leveraging use cases such as customer service, virtual assistants, market segmentation, predicting customer lifetime value, and many more (Zimmermann, 2021).
So, can computers have feelings? We can undoubtedly make emotion-aware bots, and they could, in a sense, detect our emotions and show empathy. The technology is not there yet, but it’s getting closer. My Ph.D. research is based on Emotion AI, so I guess we’ll see.
Now, the question is: should we give feelings to our computers? Where are the ethical boundaries?
That’s a more exciting matter.
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References
Picard, R. (November 1995). Affective Computing. MIT Media Laboratory Perceptual Computing Section Technical Report, 321, 1–26. Apri 2022, MIT Media Database.
Zimmermann, A. (2021). Hype Cycle for Natural Language Technologies. Feb 28th, 2022, from Gartner Inc. Website:
https://www .gartner.com/document/4003843?ref=solrAll&refval=317537990&t oggle=1
