Businesses of all kinds are investing in artificial intelligence to improve operations and customer experience. However, as we are all experiencing on a daily basis, the inefficiencies caused by miscommunications between humans and machines can be frustrating. (Morgan, 2018). To build trust between them, El Kaliouby, the founder and CEO of emotion AI company Affectiva, thinks that empathy is key. (Moore, 2018).

Emotional recognition is an easier problem to solve than emotional empathy because, as it can be shown through many examples, machine learning systems can learn to recognize patterns that are associated with a particular emotion. However, recognition is not the same as understanding, and understanding is not empathy. Therefore, artificial empathy, or affective computing, raises the question of whether machines are capable of experiencing emotions. However, artificial emotional intelligence and its advancement are important and necessary to the advancement of artificial intelligence. (Morgan, 2018).

A leading market research firm, Zion Market Research, recently added industry report on “Affective Computing Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecasts 2016–2024”  which offers comprehensive research updates and information related to market growth, demand, opportunities in the global Affective Computing Market. (Allan, 2018). 

This empathetic technology is already being used in market research and advertising. According to the CEO of Affectiva, nearly a quarter of all Fortune 500 companies already use artificial intelligence to assess the emotional impact of their advertisements. Among other examples, artificial empathy can also be used by teachers to measure how well students are absorbing their lessons, by doctors to help assess the mental health of their patients, and in cars to take the wheel from a drowsy driver. (Moore, 2018).

In my opinion, substantive improvements in this industry are needed in order to implement it on a large scale. Moreover, in the wrong hands, this kind of technology might be used in a way that is detrimental to some users, which also raises the question of the neutrality of technology.

What is your opinion on this? Do you think such technologies can remain neutral and give so much power to the people who can afford it? In what ways could advanced artificial empathy be used in order to limit its potential dangers? 

References

Allan. (2018). Global Affective Computing Market Size, Trends and Opportunities Forecast, 2016-2024. [online] Retrieved from https://zmrnewsjournal.us/21790/global-affective-computing-market-size-trends-and-opportunities-forecast-2016-2024/

Moore. (2018). Artificial Intelligence Needs Empathy to Work. [online] Retrieved from http://fortune.com/2018/09/24/artificial-intelligence-needs-empathy-to-work/ 

Morgan. (2018). AI Challenge: Achieving Artificial Empathy. [online] Retrieved from https://www.informationweek.com/big-data/ai-machine-learning/ai-challenge-achieving-artificial-empathy/a/d-id/1331628 

To remain competitive and deliver a better student leaning experience, universities must understand the increasing demand for more technology in the classroom and the campus. As a recent study from Accenture showed, 80% of the university students surveyed said that digital capabilities were important when deciding which university to attend 
(Accenture, 2016).

In order to do so, different means are at the disposal of the universities, such as distance learning platforms, virtual learning environments, and MOOCs (Rob Buckley, 2015). However, the industry is for the moment only at the early stages of disruption. One of the main dilemmas the universities encounter lies in deciding to what extent digitalization should be included in the current learning experience.

The Information Strategy course, given at RSM, seems to have found an interesting and creative compromise. Lectures are still a crucial component of the course, and interaction is encouraged without any digital means, even though this could be easier in order to involve a group as large as 250 people. However, a more innovative alternative has been found in order to foster interaction between the students themselves.

A “social blog” is put at the disposal of the students and their contribution is taken into account in the final grading for this course. The ability to choose the topics they want to discuss or comment on allows a great personalization of the learning experience for each student, as well as the exciting opportunity to learn from each other in an international context, having access to “anytime” learning. The grading system is based on statistics such as the number of blogs and comments written, and special rewards encourage the most motivated students to go one step further.

An anecdotic deviance from this system happened in the past, as some students created a robot able to frequently view their post in order to influence the statistics of the blog and get rewards. Even though this problem has been solved, we must admit how this misdirected incentive still allowed cunning students to develop their digital skills, which is at the end of the day, one of the skills that will be crucial in tomorrow’s world in order to cope with the worldwide digital disruption.

What do you think of this blog? Are you interested in expressing your opinion while giving some indirect feedback?

Sources:
Accenture. (2016). [online] Available at https://www.accenture.com/gb-en/blogs/blogs-digital-disruption-education, consulted on September 22nd, 2018.

Rob Buckley. (2015). [online] Available at https://www.i-cio.com/management/insight/item/why-education-sector-is-ripe-for-digital-disruption, consulted on September 22nd, 2018.