THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EMOTIONAL WELLNESS
AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness
The Interface of Artificial Intelligence and Human Emotion
by Mark D. Lerner, Ph.D.
Chairman, The National Center for Emotional Wellness
Principal Consultant and Creator, AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness
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AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness (AIEW) refers to the broad interface between the cognitive abilities of artificial intelligence and the complexity of human emotion. While AIEW explores how AI can support emotional well-being, it is based on the recognition that authentic, face-to-face human connection is irreplaceable.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks that traditionally require human cognitive abilities. Essentially, AI empowers computers to think and act like people.
Emotional wellness, as defined by The National Center for Emotional Wellness, is an awareness, understanding, and acceptance of our feelings and the ability to manage effectively through challenges and change.
At first glance, AI and emotional wellness appear to reside in two worlds: a world of thought and a world of feelings. AIEW addresses the interface of artificial intelligence with emotional wellness—focusing on how computers interact with and help people on an emotional level.
"Emotional AI," also known as "affective computing" or "artificial emotional intelligence," refers to the development of systems and devices that can recognize, interpret, simulate, and react to emotions (MIT, Sloan. Somers, M., 2019). AIEW goes a critical step further—focusing on how artificial intelligence can foster emotional wellness.
The application of AIEW is virtually endless and provides a critical bridge between AI and emotional well-being. Nevertheless, teaching machines to understand and replicate human emotion presents significant and inherent limitations. AI can mimic empathy and convey compassion through carefully designed responses, but it cannot truly feel or share human experiences.
Traditional face-to-face interpersonal communication fosters empathy, warmth, genuineness, compassion, trust, intimacy, nonverbal cues, shared experience, history, confidentiality, human connectivity, and more—beyond the reach of technology.
AI executives, leaders, managers, scientists, engineers, architects, and developers must collaborate with professionals with expertise in emotional wellness. With their knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, these experts have studied the connections between our thoughts, feelings, and actions and are well-versed in promoting emotional wellness.
One well-documented approach that exemplifies the importance of collaboration between the AI and mental health communities is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has become a widely accepted standard of care in mental health. CBT empowers people to achieve emotional well-being by helping them to identify and challenge maladaptive thought patterns. This leads to more positive thinking, improved emotional well-being, and enhanced overall functioning.
Emotional wellness encompasses more than just recognizing, understanding, and accepting our feelings. It also involves our ability to manage difficult situations effectively and adapt to change.
A decade ago, I mounted a theatrical production, "SESSIONS with Dr. Mark Lerner," where unscripted, real-life stories were shared in a therapeutic setting to demonstrate how people overcame challenges and became the individuals they are today. This approach aligns harmoniously with emotional well-being. I recently linked the therapeutic process elucidated in this production with An Innovative AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness Strategy. While AI systems can be trained to emulate therapeutic dialogue, such strategies should be viewed as supplementary tools—never as replacements for the unique value of human connection.
To promote emotional wellness within the realm of AIEW, AI leaders and experts must take into account two key aspects: 1) recognizing and accepting one's own emotions through self-awareness, understanding, and acceptance, and 2) harnessing the power of emotions, particularly those arising from challenges, to propel themselves to achieve emotional wellness. I often emphasize that:
Challenges don't define us. How we respond to them often does.
As our world embraces artificial intelligence, AIEW will continue to address the complexities of integrating AI with emotional wellness. Yet, we must draw a clear boundary: AI can assist, but it cannot replace. Digital empathy is not human empathy. Genuine emotional healing and trust require the presence of another person—face-to-face, in real time, with all of the subtle nuances that only human beings can provide.
While AI offers convenience and efficiency in digital communication, it cannot replace the profound, genuine human connection and understanding from in-person experiences. It is ethically imperative to use AI as a supportive bridge—not a substitute—for the enduring necessity of human-to-human communication.
For further information about the expanding scope of AIEW, please contact The National Center for Emotional Wellness.