AI & Human Emotions Symposium

Dates: October 23–25, 2025 (pending)
Location: San Francisco/Berkeley

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly sophisticated in detecting, interpreting, and responding to human emotions, we stand at a critical crossroads. How will we integrate AI into our most intimate spaces while facing unprecedented questions about privacy, autonomy, and what it means to be human in an AI-driven world?

This landmark interdisciplinary symposium brings together experts in psychology, cognitive science, and neuroscience—alongside leaders in business, policy, and the arts—to examine both the peril and promise of how AI will understand, interact with, and influence human emotional experiences.

• The Future of Emotions and AI: Can AI reliably detect and respond to nuanced emotions across different cultures, contexts, and individual differences?
• Therapeutic Boundaries: As AI assumes therapeutic roles, how do we protect emotional autonomy, human dignity, and mental health outcomes?
• Protecting Youth: What safeguards are essential for children and adolescents using AI-powered educational tools, games, and social platforms?
• Decision-Making Autonomy: If AI influences our emotions and emotions drive our decisions, are we approaching a future where AI makes choices for us?
• Workplace Ethics: How should organizations responsibly implement (or refrain from using) emotion AI in hiring, performance management, and safety monitoring?
• AI and Creativity: How can arts and storytelling inform the integration of AI and human emotions.

Researchers and Academics

Psychologists, cognitive scientists, neuroscientists, affective computing specialists and those researching human emotions 

Technology Innovators and Leaders

AI developers, UX designers, and tech leaders building emotionally responsive systems and interfaces

Healthcare Professionals

Mental health practitioners, digital therapeutics developers, and wellness technology specialists

Policy & Education

Educators, regulators, policymakers, and advocates shaping the future of emotion-technology integration

Ethics & Advocacy

Ethicists, privacy advocates, and researchers focused on emotional integrity and human rights

Creatives 

Artists, designers, filmmakers, and storytellers exploring emotional expression in digital media

Day 1: Foundations & Frontiers 

Keynote: "The Emotional Singularity: Navigating Human-AI Emotional Convergence"

• Panel: Defining Emotions in the Age of AI: Human and Machine Emotional Awareness
• Interactive Workshop: Designing Emotionally Literate Technologies: Principles and Practices
• Evening Experience: Immersive Art Installations: How Technology Shapes Emotional Expression

Day 2: Applications & Ethics of AI + Emotions 

Keynote: "The New Intimacy Economy: When Machines Become Emotional Partners"

• Panel: Emotion AI in Practice: Healthcare, Education, and Beyond
• Specialized Breakouts:
  • Digital Mental Health
  • The role of AI in Child Development
  • Surveillance Capitalism and Emotional Privacy
• Policy Roundtable: Regulatory Frameworks for Emotional AI: Global Perspectives and Developments

Day 3: The Future is Here: Defining Next Steps

Keynote: "Emotional Futures: Co-creating Human-AI Emotional Ecosystems"

• Innovation Showcase: Emerging Technologies and Research Breakthroughs
• Collaborative Workshops: Building Ethical Guidelines for Emotional AI
• Closing Panel: Call to Action: A Roadmap for Responsible Emotional AI

Stay Updated: Share your email with Emotect ai for the latest information on speaker announcements, detailed program updates, and registration information. 

Student and Academic Discounts: Available
Limited Capacity: Register early to secure your place in this transformative dialogue of the future of human emotion in the age of AI.