Beyond Algorithms

The Impact of Emotional AI

on Corporate Culture

COMMENTARY

By Ricardo Viana Vargas, PhD

and

André Barcauí, PhD

Brazil and Portugal

In the heart of a bustling metropolis, a tech-savvy corporation unveils its latest innovation: an Artificial Emotional Intelligence (AEI) system designed to revolutionize the hiring process. During interviews, candidates’ emotional and cognitive reactions are deftly interpreted by this system, providing a more profound understanding of their actual abilities and fit with the company’s culture.

The company uses this technology to navigate the nuanced aspects of human emotions, with the aim of improving objectivity and fairness. The goal is to overcome conventional biases and open up new opportunities for talent acquisition. This narrative, inspired by real-world applications of affective computing^[1], demonstrates the blending of technology and human empathy and paves the way for a time when machines will be able to comprehend not only our spoken language but also the emotions we convey.

The concept of AEI, also referred to as emotion AI or affective computing, was pioneered by researcher Rosalind Picard in 1995 with the publication of her book “Affective Computing.” Her work enabled the creation of machines capable of understanding human emotions by interpreting subtle cues in speech, facial expressions, and other physiological signals. Today, this technology allows for a more natural and intuitive interaction between humans and machines, mirroring the way we communicate with each other.

This cutting-edge field signifies a paradigm shift in how humans view and engage with machines in addition to a technical improvement. AEI envisions a time when technology can comprehend not just our commands but also our emotions and feelings by giving computers and robots the capacity to perceive, comprehend, react to, and mimic human emotions. The estimated investment in affective computing applications by 2033 is expected to exceed US$1.2 trillion^[2], giving you an idea of the magnitude. This tendency toward the development of “emotionally aware” AI may be observed, particularly in research facilities like MIT’s Media Lab and businesses like kore.ai. The MIT Media Lab excels in merging technology with the arts, aiming to invent impactful future technologies, while Kore.ai offers cutting-edge AI solutions to automate and enhance business interactions with conversational AI​. Through the use of sophisticated sensors and data processing, these systems are trained to recognize and understand human emotions. This has important ramifications for a variety of contexts, including the workplace and more routine facets of daily life.

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How to cite this article: Vargas, R. V. & Barcaui, A. (2024).  Beyond Algorithms: The Impact of Emotional AI on Corporate Culture, commentary, PM World Journal, Vol. XIII, Issue VIII, August.  Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pmwj144-Aug2024-Vargas-Barcoui-beyond-algorithms-impact-of-emotional-AI-on-corporate-culture.pdf

About the Authors

Ricardo Viana Vargas, PhD

Minas Gerais, Brazil
Lisbon, Portugal

Ricardo Viana Vargas is an experienced leader in global operations, project management, business transformation and crisis management. Founder and managing director of Macrosolutions, a consulting firm with international operations in energy, infrastructure, IT, oil and finance, he managed more than $20 billion in international projects in the past 25 years. He has written 16 books in the field, and hosts the “5 Minutes Podcast,” which has reached 13 million views globally. Ricardo is a Fellow and former chair of the board of directors of the Project Management Institute (PMI).  He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering, and an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Vargas can be contacted at ricardo@ricardo-vargas.com or ricardo-vargas.com  or Linkedin: com/in/ricardovargas

André Barcaui, PhD

São Paulo, Brazil

André Barcaui, PhD, has a background in information technology with an emphasis on expert systems and psychology with a specialization in behavioral therapy. His postdoctoral research work is mainly in AI. Undergraduate and postgraduate professor, author of several management books, and speaker. Beneficial and responsible AI enthusiast.

[1] https://www.ft.com/content/e2e85644-05be-11e8-9650-9c0ad2d7c5b5

[2] https://www.fmiblog.com/2024/03/12/affective-computing-market-overview/