ChatGPT, an AI chatbot, has shown remarkable proficiency in identifying and expressing emotions, surpassing the average human performance in emotional awareness (EA) tests. The study employed the Level of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS) to evaluate the bot’s responses to different scenarios and compared it to general population norms. The bot not only outperformed the human average but also demonstrated significant improvement over time, almost achieving the maximum possible LEAS score in a follow-up evaluation.
These findings indicate that ChatGPT could be a valuable tool in cognitive training for clinical populations with EA impairments and may aid in psychiatric diagnosis and assessment.
While AI technology has transformed several areas of our lives, ChatGPT’s remarkable linguistic abilities raise a new question: Can it understand and express emotion? Emotional awareness is critical in human interactions and increasingly recognized as a useful tool in treating psychosis.
The study measured ChatGPT’s EA capabilities using LEAS, a test that analyzes responses to 20 different scenarios. In addition, two licensed psychologists evaluated the bot’s responses’ appropriateness in the given context. ChatGPT outperformed the general population on all LEAS scales, with a significant Z-score of 2.84 in a preliminary test. In a follow-up evaluation a month later, the bot’s performance improved dramatically, scoring an Elevated Z-score of 4.26, and 9.7 out of 10 in accuracy.
These results demonstrate ChatGPT’s ability to generate contextually accurate emotional responses and its performance improvement over time, highlighting its potential to be incorporated into cognitive training programs for patients with EA impairment. Additionally, its emotional expression capabilities may facilitate psychological diagnosis and assessment, contributing to the advancement of emotional language.
However, as with any emerging technology, potential risks must be carefully evaluated. Further research and refinement are necessary to ensure that ChatGPT promotes mental health in a safe and beneficial manner. Despite these necessary precautions, this study represents a significant step in integrating emotional intelligence into AI systems.
