AI Empathy Research

The AI Empathy Research Initiative brings together fellow senior researchers from Swiss universities to advance the field of empathic AI within the marketing context. Through joint research projects funded by third parties, the research group is dedicated to conducting cutting-edge research that addresses critical questions about the role of empathy in voice assistants enabled by artificial intelligence. With collective expertise centered around empathy, anthropomorphism, and humanness in voice assistants, the research group is united by the shared mission of unraveling the complexities surrounding how and when empathic AI assistants influence human decision-making processes. Hosted by the Chair of Marketing for Social Impact at the University of Zurich, the research initiative is designed to push the boundaries of relevant and timely research questions, ensuring far-reaching implications for managers, policymakers, and society. For managers, this work guides the development of more effective and human-centric AI assistants. For policymakers, it contributes to the foundational understanding of AI empathy, its effects on human behavior, and the ethics of AI, ultimately anticipating potential risks better. For society, it offers a glimpse into the beneficial and potential detrimental effects of empathy-induced biases for individuals.