Technology is advancing faster than our ability to adapt. Digital communication, such as text messaging, email, mobile apps, social media, and video conferencing, is replacing genuine face-to-face interaction.

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Unfortunately, correlated with this proliferation of technology is an alarming increase in mental health problems. Anxiety has become the most common mental illness in the United States, and depression is now the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide.

 

The National Center for Emotional Wellness is committed to promoting emotional well-being for individuals and diverse organizations in our era of technological advancement and AI integration.

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What is AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness?

by Copilot PRO: "Your everyday AI companion"

 

"AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness (AIEW) refers to the broad interface between artificial intelligence’s cognitive abilities and the complexity of human emotions. It acknowledges the irreplaceable importance of authentic, in-person communication and focuses on how artificial intelligence can foster emotional well-being.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science that enables machines to perform tasks that traditionally require human cognitive abilities. Emotional wellness, as defined by The National Center for Emotional Wellness, is an awareness, understanding, and acceptance of our feelings and the ability to navigate challenges and change.

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AIEW addresses the interface of artificial intelligence with emotional wellness, focusing on how computers interact with and help people on an emotional level. AIEW goes a step further than “Emotional AI,” “affective computing,” or “artificial emotional intelligence,” which refers to the development of systems and devices that can recognize, interpret, simulate, and react to emotions. AIEW focuses on how artificial intelligence can foster emotional wellness.

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The application of AIEW is virtually endless and provides a critical bridge between AI and emotional well-being. However, teaching machines to understand and replicate human emotion presents significant challenges. Traditional face-to-face interpersonal communication fosters empathy, warmth, genuineness, compassion, trust, intimacy, nonverbal cues, shared experience, history, confidentiality, human connectivity, and more—all variables that must be considered when integrating technology.

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AI executives, leaders, managers, scientists, engineers, architects, and developers must collaborate with professionals with expertise in addressing emotional wellness. With their knowledge, skill, experience, training, and education, these experts have studied the connections between our thoughts, feelings, and actions and are well-versed in how to promote emotional wellness.

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One well-documented approach that exemplifies the importance of collaboration between the AI and mental health communities is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has become a widely accepted standard of care in mental health. CBT empowers people to achieve emotional well-being by helping them to identify and challenge maladaptive thought patterns. This leads to more positive thinking, improved emotional well-being, and enhanced overall functioning.

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In summary, AI-Integrated Emotional Wellness promotes transparency, facilitates thorough review and negotiation, and helps identify and mitigate potential legal risks before a document is finalized. It is a critical and often overlooked component of wellness that profoundly impacts our lives."

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Learn more nationalcenterforemotionalwellness.org