The column explores the manipulation of AI by exploiting its ability to detect emotions, especially in customer service scenarios. As AI becomes more adept at interpreting human emotions, people are gaming the system by feigning strong emotions to receive preferential treatment. This trend could lead to societal shifts where emotional tirades become a common strategy not just with AI but in real-world interactions as well. Affective computing, a field combining AI, computer science, and psychology, aims to interpret and respond to human emotions. However, there are concerns about the accuracy of AI in discerning emotions, with possible misclassifications posing ethical questions.
Yet, the potential benefits of AI in emotional detection are highlighted through examples in healthcare and education, where AI can offer support by adjusting interactions based on emotional cues. The discussion points out two emotional ploys used against AI: genuine and faked emotional expressions. The latter raises ethical concerns, with individuals potentially practicing this strategy to exploit AI for favorable outcomes. This capability could alter personal interactions, making emotional manipulation a common tactic. The text also predicts a constant back-and-forth between AI developers and users, as each adapts to the other's strategies. Attempts to curtail emotional exploitation might be met with resistance as users find new ways to bypass AI restrictions, turning it into a cat-and-mouse game. The piece concludes with philosophical reflections on emotions’ power over rationality and urges society to maintain emotional control to ensure mutual well-being amidst evolving AI interactions.
Exploring AI Manipulation: The Rise of Emotional Exploitation
Welcome to this week’s Pulse, covering updates from December’s Google core update, platform responses to AI quality concerns, and disputes highlighting tensions in AI-generated health information.
Philip Lacor, CRO of Personio—a $3B+ HR and payroll platform with 1,500 employees, 15,000 customers, and a 400-person sales team—shared an insightful AI transformation journey at SaaStr AI London that serves as a template for revenue leaders aiming to deploy AI effectively in go-to-market (GTM) strategies.
Before the event begins at 10:30 a.m.
ADAIA Guild has launched an innovative, step-by-step system designed to revolutionize how founders and marketers create social media content.
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Shares of SoundHound AI (SOUN +6.62%) dropped 50% in 2025, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.
DeepMind, Google's prominent AI research division, has achieved a major breakthrough at the convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum computing, marking a pivotal advancement in computational technology.
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