Individual Scientific Employment 

Awarded by FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia in the 6th edition of the Individual Support Call for the Stimulus of Scientific Employment, with NOVA University as the host institution. This program aims to foster, deepen, and specialize scientific research and technological development activities, addressing scientific missions and challenges aligned with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (know more).

Role & Place: Reserarcher at NOVA LINCS lab, Department of Informatics, NOVA School of Science and Technology.

SCOPE

The Ethereal project aims at exploring how AI can regulate human-like traits to cultivate empathy and foster trustworthy social interactions. It focuses on designing ambient assisted living environments where AI agents and their personas interact with the human actor, using emergent interfaces to create pervasive and emotionally responsive experiences.

The goal is to transcend human limitations and enhance societal wellbeing by integrating AI-driven interactions that augment care delivery. To this end, this project explores experiments with AI assistive technology that leverages multi-sensory communication. Central to this vision is the ability of machines to comprehend human emotions and respond with emotional resonance. This capability can be realized through multimodal interaction and emotional contagion, enabling AI agents to engage in deeper, more empathetic connections with humans.

Status: ongoing

Submission date: 08.05.2023 / Approval date: 28.11.2023 / Final results: 24.05.2024 / Begining date: 08.09.2024

Inês Rodolfo, PhD

Human-Centered Design

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