Artificial Emotional Intelligence (AEI) refers to the ability of machines to recognize, simulate, and respond to human emotions, allowing for more natural and emotionally attuned interactions between humans and technology. In Japan, AEI is being explored not just for practical uses—such as in caregiving or companionship—but also as a way to rethink social concepts like diversity and personhood, with emotionally aware robots increasingly seen as potential members of society rather than mere tools. This panel explores the emerging field of Artificial Emotional Intelligence (AEI) in Japan, focusing on its cultural, ethical, and philosophical dimensions. Together, the panelists offer a critical and interdisciplinary lens on how Japan is negotiating human-machine relationships in an age of affective automation.

Speakers:

Daniel White, Associate Fellow, Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, University of Cambridge
"Appropriating “Cultural Diversity” in Artificial Emotional Intelligence in Japan"

The global growth of interest in building machines with artificial emotional intelligence begs questions of who, what, and how things feel in our increasingly multispecies society. In Japan today, these questions are surprisingly entangled with how technologists interested in futures of human-machine coexistence are envisioning the concept of diversity. Familiar with critiques of the lack of diversity in AI, some companion robot producers have proposed that although the word “diversity” today refers to skin color, gender, ethnicity, and cultural differences, in the future it might equally refer to robots. Such propositions treat robots as agents deserving recognition in a diverse society—as kinds of persons that on account of their ability to offer total acceptance to others might earn social acceptance in return. While such propositions have stimulated new ideas about how diversity in a future society might be extended beyond human members, they have also raised concerns that a robot-inclusive diversity will come at the expense of other humans. This presentation considers the changing notions of diversity in Japan through an exploration of how engineers are translating human affect into machine-readable emotion. 

Keiko Nishimura, Assistant Professor, School of International Liberal Studies, Faculty of International Research and Education, Waseda University
"Putting the Hype in Context:  Introduction to the Critical Perspective on Artificial Intelligence" 

This talk aims to give a brief introduction to critical studies of artificial intelligence (AI) from the perspectives of science and technology studies (STS) and critical cultural studies of technology. Mainstream discourse of AI, as with any technology, often swings between the pendulum of utopic and dystopic determinisms—ones that claim, “this is it; this will change everything” for the better, or the worst.  However, the reality is often more complex; any technology, including AI, is never created or used in a vacuum; its production, distribution, and usage are involved in the social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. This talk will first introduce a few main STS thinkers and theories that are relevant in thinking about AI. Next, while there are a multitude of possible angles, this talk will in particular explore AI’s environmental impact and its relations to ideology and power.  

John G. Russell, Emeritus Professor, Cultural Anthropology, Gifu University
"Empathetic Machines, Heartless Humans: Mimesis, AI, Robotics, Personhood, and the Human Question"

In 2017, the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs adopted a resolution recommending the consideration of “electronic personhood” for AI and autonomous robots, while Saudi Arabia granted citizenship to Sophia, a humanoid robot. Though neither action recognized these entities as “human,” both conferred aspects of personhood onto non-human agents, including rights and protections not consistently and effectively extended to certain human populations. Mainstream discourse on AI and humanoid robots has largely focused on their practical applications and impact on manual and intellectual labor and industry -- factories, hospitals, classrooms, media, and boardrooms -- rather than on deeper philosophical questions of personhood. This talk will examine the anthropomorphic and emotional anthropomimetic nature of these technologies, exploring how they evoke empathy and invite human projection. It interrogates how these responses complicate our understanding of personhood and human exceptionalism at a time when the boundaries between human and non-human,” authenticity” and artifice have grown disturbingly porous, and empathy toward marginalized and othered communities is in decline. 

Event Moderator: Kyle Cleveland, ICAS Co-Director and Associate Professor of Sociology, Temple University Japan