The Heart and the Algorithm

In William Shakespeare’s words from the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, Juliet famously professes that “My bounty is as boundless as the sea / My love as deep; the more I give to thee / The more I have, for both are infinite” (2.2.133-135).

Is Juliet’s love truly as limitless as the ocean? For such a wild emotion, can her love be measured? And lastly, if this emotion is indeed measurable, can a technological tool, such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantify these feelings?

Hyperbolic comparisons concerning potent emotions have a way of carving themselves into literary works, pop culture and our daily speech. Passion is an unquenchable fire within the heart. Grief is a bottomless abyss of darkness.

Six Seconds, a non-profit organization intent on increasing emotional intelligence (EQ) globally, believes that AI is accelerating technological innovation and simultaneously “raising the value of what machines can’t do: empathy, connection, and purpose-driven leadership.” This claim negates AI from the discussion of EQ, which can feel intuitive to us — after all, “artificial” is part of the name and emotions are genuine and raw — but possessing this set perspective can be detrimental.

To tackle the nuances in the connection between AI and EQ, the following question remains: Can AI measure emotional intelligence and, as a result, encourage meaning and connection on a deeper level?

The simple answer: AI is unable to attain humane understanding and feelings, but it can support communication. Continuing to overlook its capability to evaluate emotional patterns will inhibit the necessary advancements in psychology.

What is emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to act optimally through intentional thought and feelings. Key aspects include being able to identify, understand and respond to emotions with purpose. Ultimately, individuals with high EQ will lead a more fulfilling life because they have built awareness of their own feelings. EQ is not associated with a specific personality trait or disposition, which, while this comment may feel obvious, is an important clarification when introducing the concept.

As made clear now, emotions are not the same as emotional intelligence — not even close. Referring back to Juliet’s passionate speech, the melodramatic phrasing surrounding her emotions reveals an impossibility to measure comprehension of these seemingly indescribable feelings. That comprehension, or lack thereof, reflects emotional intelligence.

Research conducted by Six Seconds discovered that organizations focused on emotional intelligence are 22 times more likely to perform at a high level. In schools, students can develop stronger relationships and succeed more profoundly in academics. Individuals will discover an elevated quality of life with greater effectiveness, satisfaction and well-being.

These achievements tie in directly with the state of our modern, evolving economy, one that demands clear collaboration and productivity. While technical skill plays a part in one’s available opportunities, emotional intelligence determines the quality of their leadership over a sustained period of time and their ultimate success.

What is artificial intelligence capable of?

AI has the ability to recognize vocal emotional intonations, facial expressions and behavioral patterns. A study conducted by the University of Bern found that AI models achieve an accuracy of 81 percent on standardized EQ tests, compared to the human average of 56 percent. These findings suggest that AI can masterfully interpret emotional cues and circumstances.

However, accuracy does not translate to understanding. I argue that these successes stemmed from AI’s proficiency in identifying patterns and answers, not genuine emotion found in complex real-world situations and societies.

Around the world, cultures feature different social norms, and the perception and evaluation of an emotional response will be inconsistent. Defining certain approaches as correct exposes underlying biases, which AI can easily identify when instructed.

These disadvantages can be, when used properly, advantageous. AI offers scale and consistency beyond what humans can feasibly match. Already, its usages in mental health screening and customer support have proved beneficial. As long as human moderators keep in mind its aforementioned limitations, AI will extend humanity’s reach, increasing emotional intelligence, improving accessibility and complementing human judgment.

Conclusion

Our greatest obstacle is our own ego. When we resolutely announce our superiority concerning emotional depth, we struggle to yield, or even share, this title with emerging technology. Collaboration with artificial intelligence, combining efficient work with deeper understanding, is the ideal path for the future, and recognizing the depth of contributions that technology brings to emotional intelligence is imperative to embarking upon this path.