Can machines have emotions?

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

AI and Society

DOI

10.1007/s00146-024-02022-x

Abstract

In this paper I articulate the question of whether machines can have emotions. I then reject a common argument against why they cannot have emotions based on the lack of a capacity for feelings. The goal of this paper is not to decisively show that machines can have emotions, but to decisively show that the naïve argument for the conclusion that they cannot needs to be critically examined. I argue that machines that have artificial general intelligence can have emotions based on having the capacity to make judgments that are essential and constitutive of certain emotions, such as anger. I argue against the view that phenomenological or physiological profiles are essential to anger on the basis of emotion regulation. I consider a long list of objections to the position that machines can have emotions.

Keywords

AI, Emotion Regulation, Emotions, Intelligence, Judgement, Understanding

Department

Philosophy

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