Can AI “detect” emotions?

Emotion AI, also known as Affective Computing or Empathic AI, is an area of research focusing on machine learning models capable of identifying and categorizing emotion-related behaviors. While AI can capture patterns in human expressions, it's crucial to recognize that these technologies interpret behaviors in probabilistic terms, not certainties. Real applications of these technologies focus on observable data and shared human interpretations of visible emotional expressions. Empathic AI is a more accurate term for this field, as it uses an understanding of how we express ourselves to produce better responses. The science behind human expressions has been studied extensively by emotion scientists over the past 50+ years, focusing on facial and vocal expressions. These models offer objective measurements of expressive behaviors that people readily associate with various feelings when they see or hear them in isolation. Empathic AI has the potential to enhance how we communicate with technology, improve how technology affects our well-being, and enable more meaningful connections among humans while respecting privacy.