Emotion Detection in AI refers to the use of an AI System to identify or infer human feelings from data like facial expressions, vocal patterns, or bodily signals. This technology rests on the idea that emotions produce measurable cues that can be analyzed and classified by algorithms.
Its significance emerges from the deep personal insights these systems collect and the risks of misuse. If used without proper informed consent, emotion detection can violate privacy and undermine human rights. The accuracy of such systems varies, often revealing cultural or algorithmic biases that can lead to unfair treatment. They may also influence behavior, causing people to feel monitored or manipulated. Strict legal frameworks and careful implementation are therefore essential to prevent harm, ensure data security, and maintain respect for personal dignity in any AI-driven analysis of human emotions.
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Last Updated: March 7, 2025
Research Assistant: Laiba Mehmood
Contributor: To Be Determined
Reviewer: To Be Determined
Editor: Caitlin Corrigan
Subjects: Technology, Ethics, Law
Recommended Citation: "Emotion Detection, Edition 1.0 Research." In AI & Human Rights Index, edited by Nathan C. Walker, Dirk Brand, Caitlin Corrigan, Georgina Curto Rex, Alexander Kriebitz, John Maldonado, Kanshukan Rajaratnam, and Tanya de Villiers-Botha. New York: All Tech is Human; Camden, NJ: AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University, 2025. Accessed April 17, 2025. https://aiethicslab.rutgers.edu/glossary/emotional-detection/.