Are emotional expressions universal?

Recent studies have confirmed that emotional expressions such as facial cues, vocal bursts, and music are shared across cultures with nuanced variations. Researchers at Hume recently ran a study with over 15,000 individuals from five countries and showed that at least 21 distinct vocal bursts have shared emotional meanings in these different cultures. The emerging ability to collect and analyze data on a global scale allows us to appreciate both the universal and culturally specific aspects of emotion. This understanding is essential as we continue to develop AI systems that interact with diverse human populations, helping ensure that emotional expressions are accurately interpreted across cultures and contexts.