"Zoom could soon add controversial emotion recognition features to its platform" 19 April 2022

When Zoom calls and phone convos replace in-person meetings, some of the subtleties of communication—like body language and tone—are bound to get lost.

Companies that make “emotion-recognition” algorithms have cropped up in a controversial attempt to help solve this issue, selling software that they claim can parse emotions in video and phone calls.

• Last week, Protocol reported that Zoom is planning to add emotion-recognition software to its product, for now focused on helping sales teams.

...The technology’s efficacy is dubious, some researchers say, and others argue that even if it did work, this sort of tech is a bad idea due to privacy risks and potential discrimination.

• The company is researching how to incorporate emotion-recognition tech into forthcoming projects, and cited studies to Protocol that suggest some improvements have been made in the field.

A key concern among critics is that emotion-recognition AI will be used by managers to surveil and discipline employees. And, even more controversially, students.