One of the major differences between AI and humans, we are told, is the capacity to empathize. But is empathy intrinsic to being human? We could certainly imagine an 'Artificial Emotional Intelligence (AEI)' that mirrors human empathy and is used as a much-needed salve for social ills such as loneliness. But offer a convincing enough emulation of empathy and we humans are inclined to conclude that it is empathy. And the authors of this paper (14 page PDF) consider the possibility of an unintended outcome of AEI: that we humans would change what we mean by empathy. "The assimilation of AEI into society gives rise to emergent empathy. This concept reframes empathy, not as an intrinsic feature but as an outcome of the dynamic interaction between humans, technology, tasks, and structures."
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