Prof. Dr. Eva Weber-Guskar mit »Gefühle der Zukunft« (GEGEN DEN STROM)

Reading & discussion
as part of the political series GEGEN DEN STROM

Everyone is talking about ChatGPT, LaMDA and similar "big language models" that answer knowledge questions, write texts and even have personal conversations with us.Although the invention and design of these language systems are not aimed at feelings, but solely at language processing, a debate has flared up in recent years about whether these systems could in some way feel or develop a kind of consciousness. And even if they are just simulating everything: What does that mean for us and our emotionality? What kind of interaction with them is problematic, reprehensible or a welcome addition to our living environment?

"Affective computing" is the branch of AI research that is the starting point for this topic, as it has the technical foundations: the replication of human emotionality, the ability to recognize, stimulate and simulate feelings in others. Eva Weber-Guskar explains the areas in which this emotionalized AI is already being used and, from a philosophical perspective, encourages discussion on how it should be developed and applied responsibly.

Eva Weber-Guskar is Heisenberg Professor of Ethics and Philosophy of Emotions at Ruhr University Bochum, where she is Principal Investigator in the interdisciplinary research project "INTERACT! New Forms of Social Interaction with Intelligent Systems". Previously, she was a visiting scholar at New York University and a visiting professor in Vienna, Zurich, Berlin and Erlangen. She received her doctorate from the Free University of Berlin with a thesis on understanding emotions and habilitated in Göttingen with a book on the concept of human dignity. She is currently working on topics of emotionalized artificial intelligence and temporal aspects in theories of the good life. Since 2020, she has been a founding member of the editorial team of philpublica.de, an online platform for communicating academic philosophy to the public. Since autumn 2023, she has also headed the philosophical discussion series "Denkraum" at Theater Oberhausen.

Press reviews
"Her new book 'Feelings of the Future' [...] provides a very good overview of what is called affective computing."
Süddeutsche Zeitung, Fabrice Braun, 17.08.2024

The reading is organized by Gegen den Strom. The political series has been promoting political education for 20 years and offers a free lecture and discussion format in Hagen. Gegen den Strom - these are: Arbeit und Leben Berg Mark, DGB Region Ruhr Mark, Integrationsagentur des Caritasverbandes Hagen, Kulturzentrum Pelmke, Sozialistische Jugend Die Falken UB Hagen and VHS Hagen.

Supported by Arbeit und Leben Berg Mark.