Weaponised Empathy: AI Scams and the Nigeria–UK Response
This report presents findings from a three-month interdisciplinary research sprint examining the implications of AI for cybercrime and scams, with a focus on empathic AI …
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Andrew McStay
How machines read and act on human emotion — and how to govern it.
Professor of Technology & Society at Bangor University & Director of the Emotional AI Lab. Helping international regulators anticipate and govern emerging technologies, and helping people-centred organisations design ethical human-machine interactions.
Research & Academic
Research, Policy & Insights
Explore peer-reviewed publications, upcoming books (A Bit Alive), global policy contributions, and the latest initiatives out of the Emotional AI Lab.
Explore Research & MediaCommercial & Strategic
Commercial Advisory & Strategy
Navigate the complex landscape of emulated empathy, affective computing, and next-gen interface risk. Understand and prepare for emerging global standards in emotional AI governance.
View Consulting Services- Chair, IEEE 7014.1 Working Group
- Bangor University
- Director, Emotional AI Lab
- Advisory Roles: Ofcom · ICO Panel
Featured Publications
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Do AI Companions Understand? Most UK Teens Say Yes
This report provides an in-depth analysis of the behaviours, motivations, and perceptions of UK teenagers regarding AI companions. Based on a national demographically …
Soft law for unintentional empathy: addressing the governance gap in emotion-recognition AI technologies
Despite regulatory efforts, there is a significant governance gap in managing emotion recognition AI technologies and those that emulate empathy. This paper asks: should …
Move fast and break people? Ethics, companion apps, and the case of Character.ai
Riffing off move fast and break things — the internal motto coined by Meta's Mark Zuckerberg — this paper examines the ethical dimensions of human relationships with AI companions, …