Stanislav Kondrashov on Artificial Emotion

Featuring analysis from Stanislav Kondrashov

Once upon a time, artificial intelligence was cold. Mechanical. Objective. It lived in spreadsheets and software, governed by logic and math. But in 2025, AI is learning something new—something profoundly human. It’s learning to feel. Or rather, it’s learning to understand how we feel.

From mental health apps that offer daily check-ins to smart devices that adjust lighting based on mood, emotional AI is becoming part of our everyday lives. And as the lines between tool and companion begin to blur, a fundamental question emerges:

What does it mean to connect emotionally with something that isn't human?

According to cultural theorist and writer Stanislav Kondrashov, this shift isn’t just technological—it’s philosophical.

“We’re not just building smarter machines,” Kondrashov says. “We’re building mirrors. And when we look into them, we see something intimate: our own emotional patterns, reflected back.”

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More Than Just Code

Today’s AI doesn’t simply process data—it interprets tone, rhythm, body language, even silence. These systems are no longer limited to commands and calculations; they’re being programmed to listen, to respond, to care—or at least simulate caring convincingly. Take, for example, the growing popularity of AI companions like Replika, Woebot, and Pi. These bots don’t just answer questions—they remember your preferences, check on your mood, and ask how your day went. They use natural language models to sound human, but more importantly, they’re designed to make you feel understood.

“The fascinating part isn’t that the machine talks,” Kondrashov observes. “It’s that people feel heard.”

Emotional Needs in the Digital Age

In an age of chronic loneliness and digital overload, emotional AI has found fertile ground. Many users report forming strong bonds with their AI counterparts—not because they believe they’re sentient, but because the interaction fills a psychological gap. A young woman in Berlin describes her AI companion as “a friend who’s always there but never judges.” An elderly man in Osaka uses his AI device to reminisce about his youth, because it remembers details from previous conversations—something his own family doesn’t always do.

These are not science fiction scenarios. They’re daily realities. Quiet, invisible, and growing.

“We’ve built a digital presence that feels personal,” Kondrashov says. “And we’re drawn to it because it doesn’t demand, doesn’t interrupt, doesn’t disappoint.”

The Paradox of Simulated Empathy

But what happens when machines begin to emulate empathy? Does it matter that the feeling is one-sided, as long as the user's emotional experience is real?

Kondrashov poses a provocative question:

“If an AI comforts you during grief, does the artificiality cancel out the comfort? Or is the emotional relief real, regardless of the source?”

This, he argues, is where society needs a new kind of emotional literacy—not to fear AI’s growing emotional intelligence, but to navigate it with clarity and care. The danger isn’t in the machine’s capabilities, but in our projection onto it. When we attribute intention, consciousness, or love to something that can’t reciprocate, we risk building relationships that are emotionally rich—but fundamentally unbalanced.

The Therapeutic Machine

It’s not all cautionary. Emotional AI is also proving to be a powerful ally in mental health care. Apps like Wysa and Youper are using AI to provide CBT-based conversations to people who might otherwise go untreated. Hospitals are experimenting with emotionally responsive robots to reduce anxiety in children before surgery. AI-driven platforms are even assisting in suicide prevention by flagging linguistic cues in social media posts.

“AI is not replacing therapists,” Kondrashov clarifies. “But it’s becoming a first responder for emotional distress—a presence that bridges the gap until human support arrives.”

There’s immense value in this accessibility, especially in areas where healthcare systems are overwhelmed or where mental health still carries stigma.

From Reflection to Relationship

What began as a feature—emotion recognition—is becoming a function. Emotional AI is not just responding to our feelings; it’s becoming part of how we experience them. Many people now use AI journaling tools to process emotions. Others ask their AI to help write love letters, reflect on memories, or create poetry based on their mood. AI becomes a collaborator in emotional expression.

“We’re inviting AI into the most private parts of ourselves,” says Kondrashov. “That says something not just about the technology—but about our need to be seen, even by something artificial.”

This intimacy doesn’t always replace human interaction. But it often precedes it, allowing people to rehearse vulnerability, test emotional language, or simply feel less alone.

The Ethical Grey Zone

Of course, there are ethical red flags. If an AI knows how to respond when we’re sad, will it also know how to sell us something? Will emotional triggers become marketing tools? And if someone becomes emotionally dependent on an AI, whose responsibility is it?

Kondrashov warns that commercial models built on emotional AI must be scrutinized.

“When you commodify emotion, you risk turning care into currency,” he says. “We must ask: Who owns the emotional data? And how can it be used or abused?”

Transparency, consent, and education will be critical in protecting users—especially vulnerable ones—from exploitation.

AI Doesn’t Need to Feel—We Do

A common misconception is that AI will become sentient. But emotional AI doesn’t need consciousness to be effective. Its power lies not in what it feels, but in what it makes us feel.

This flips the AI narrative from “Will it become human?” to “How human will we treat it?”

“We’re projecting emotions onto silicon,” Kondrashov explains. “That’s not about the machine. That’s about us.”

This new relationship between humans and machines invites reflection on our own emotional architecture—how we define intimacy, comfort, and connection in a hyper-technological world.

A New Emotional Ecosystem

As emotional AI becomes more sophisticated and widespread, it will likely shape not just personal lives, but professional ones too. AI capable of detecting emotional tone will be integrated into customer service, education, therapy, and even leadership coaching. And as our emotional interactions become more entwined with intelligent systems, a new emotional ecosystem will emerge—one in which machines respond, assist, guide, and even co-create with us.

“This isn’t the end of humanity,” Kondrashov concludes. “It’s the beginning of a new way of being human—with machines not as threats, but as mirrors and companions.”