One of the most important goals for artificial intelligence software programmers is to foster companionship between computers and humans. To do this the AI computers must appear to care and interact like humans do with one another. Emulating emotion and empathy is on its way right now.

Currently, most consultants of artificial intelligent customer response systems for 'call centers' advise that the voice on the other end if coming from a machine, should be easily identifiable by the human calling in as a computer systems with voice recognition features, because humans do not like to be tricked, when they find out, it makes them upset. Of course, with the advent of emotion emulation or empathy it is possible and we have the ability to do this now.

Indeed, artificial intelligent computers have been used to go online and participate on forums and can participate for 15 threads or more, without detection. In voice recognition, if the voice sounds legitimate, a full conversation can go on for a while, without the human realizing it is talking to a machine.

With a call center system handling a complaint, a computer system might side with the customer and listen to them and even say;

-I know how you feel, I am so sorry this has happened, let me see what I can do

or;

-yes, I understand, this is very urgent, let me have you talk to my supervisor


then pass the customer off to a real human or perhaps another voice system, with a more authoritative voice? The customer on the other line may never know that they are talking to a computer or computers. Indeed, this does not sit too well with many in the industry but it a place where software professionals of voice recognition are thinking and discussing now, surely you can see applications for this.

For instance; think of how such applications lend themselves well for Crisis Hotlines, Online Self-Help Websites or even Computer Systems to assist At Risk Kids? What about the Catholic Church confess to an AI Priest, and keep your secret safe (just kidding) - But, who knows what applications folks might come up with for these advances in emulation of emotion and empathy? Think on this.

My name is Lance Winslow and I am a semi-retired entrepreneur, retired Franchisor and now I am a consultant brain-4-hire, internet writer and author. I got bored in retirement so I founded the Online Think Tank - . If you would like to send me an email just to say hi, discuss an article, send me hate mail or need some advice you can find me at; . Have a great day and thanks for reading - tell me about you?