Silicon Valley is in a race to crack the code of human emotion. Amazon plans to tune Alexa to emotional tone in voice. Apple’s FaceID is the first step toward recognizing emotion in facial expression. Google has patented an emotionally responsive smart home system. New start-ups are cropping up to cash in on the feelings of shoppers, drivers, and viewers.
With all the ethical guidelines emerging from thinktanks, tech companies, and government agencies, artificial emotional intelligence has barely surfaced as an issue. Yet, what could present more of an ethical conundrum than the potential commodification of our inner lives? This session considers the unique ethical challenges and practical considerations for creating a more principled approach to emotion tech.