Do Machines Feel?
Spyros Kontis, Sofia Anastasiadou
Advances in Computational Intelligence and Robotics January 29, 2026 DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-5530-6.ch007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that emotion-aware machines blur the line between simulated and genuinely felt emotion, transforming empathy, autonomy, and responsibility in human-machine relations. Proposes "bioethical governance" grounded in transparency, proportionality, and emotional dignity as prerequisites for responsible AI, and contends that asking whether machines really feel reflects humanity's search for moral understanding. |
Abstract
This chapter explores the emergence of artificial qualia as the synthetic counterpart of human experience and examines the ethical, psychological, and philosophical implications of machines that appear to feel. Through an interdisciplinary analysis combining philosophy of mind, affective computing, and bioethics, the chapter distinguishes between the simulation and the experience of emotion. It argues that as emotion-aware systems evolve, they transform not only human–machine relations but also the meaning of empathy, autonomy, and responsibility. The discussion introduces the framework of bioethical governance, emphasizing transparency, proportionality, and emotional dignity as prerequisites for responsible AI. Ultimately, the chapter suggests that the question “Do machines really feel?” reflects humanity's search for moral understanding in an age where emotional intelligence becomes both a mirror and a measure of ethical maturity.