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Digital Pulse: Breathing Emotions into Machines

Writer's picture: Asma Y. ZainalAsma Y. Zainal

As the third decade of the twenty-first century begins, we are in the heart of an outstanding period of transformation in the area of social engagement. This progression, accelerated by significant technical advancements, widespread internet accessibility, and our innate desire for meaningful connections, presents an amazing picture of the future social landscape.


Dissolving Boundaries

According to the International Telecommunication Union, internet users are anticipated to

reach a startling 4.9 billion by the end of 2023. This rapid digital proliferation is causing a transformation in our social conventions, replacing restrictions of time and geography with immediate, borderless digital engagement.


Esteemed futurist Amy Webb, in her influential book "The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity," contends that our future will be characterized by AI devices that are "highly adaptive to our individual needs." Echoing this idea, the emergence of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology promise a future where physical limits are no impediment to having social connections. In fact, as per research by the International Data Corporation, spending on AR and VR is predicted to skyrocket to $50.9 billion in 2026, underscoring the revolutionary potential of these technologies.


AI with Emotions

Our foray into the digital void emphasizes the necessity of bringing emotional resonance to our online encounters. The 'Internet of Emotions"—a virtual space where machines can understand and react to human emotions—will be made possible by emerging technologies, particularly Emotion Detection and Recognition (EDR), which is prepared to close this gap. Markets & Markets[1], a market research platform, predicts that the worldwide emotional AI market will grow to an astounding $42.9.billion by 2027, demonstrating its enormous potential.

However, if we breathe emotions into AI, how do we keep them from turning against us? What safeguards do we have in place to prevent emotionally intelligent machines from becoming manipulative puppet masters? Emotional AI holds out the possibility of an emotionally immersed future, but it also carries serious risks. We must act cautiously.


Privacy and Digital Well-being

We face significant concerns regarding information security and mental health as we navigate an increasingly connected world. The fundamental query arising is: How do we find an ideal equilibrium between our desire for continual digital connection and our need for privacy and digital wellbeing along with safeguarding our children?

Governments and organizations have already begun the process of establishing strict data privacy standards, so a balance is already being sought. Methodologies for encryption are being improved, and there is a clear trend in favor of enhancing digital literacy. Professor Solange Ghernaouti, an expert on cybersecurity, explains that "in our interconnected society, privacy is the foundation upon which individual freedom rests," highlighting the vital importance privacy plays in our increasingly digital environment.


Towards a New Era of Connectivity

We are on the cusp of a fascinating future that will merge the physical and digital worlds and completely transform social connectivity. A future in which human relationships transcend

geographical limits and our digital avatars reflect our emotions. Adaptability, insight, and a persistent dedication to our fundamental human values are necessary to navigate this future. The real enrichment of our shared human experiences in this future is intrinsically tied to preserving individual privacy. Our future depends on our ability to synthesize various realities into a story of connection, empathy, and humanity in the digital age as we speed toward a more computerized world.


As futurist Kevin Kelly once said, "The future is not a destination, it's a direction... It's our job to make something of it." We need to ask ourselves if we are prepared to take on the challenge of creating a digital future that is both emotionally engaging and secure. This is about preserving people as well as the technology we develop.


*All pictures generated via DALLE.ai


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