Sharon Tettegah
Biography
Dr. Sharon Y. Tettegah is a distinguished academic and professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), United States, where she currently serves in the College of Creative Studies. She is also the Director of the Center for Black Studies Research. With a PhD in Educational Psychology from UCSB, Dr. Tettegah has held multiple leadership roles across institutions, including Associate Vice Chancellor of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at UCSB and Associate Dean of Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her interdisciplinary expertise spans education, technology, social justice, computer science, and empathy research. Dr. Tettegah has authored and edited several influential books on emotions, technology, and education, and has received numerous fellowships and awards, including from the National Science Foundation. She has contributed significantly to diversity and inclusion initiatives, as well as to advancing scholarship in multicultural education, educational technology, and cognitive neuroscience. Her work is globally recognized, and she remains active in research, editorial roles, and national science policy initiatives.
Research Interest
Dr. Sharon Y. Tettegah's research focuses on empathy, emotional cognition, and learning in digital and virtual environments. She also explores diversity, equity, and inclusion in education through technology-enhanced and interdisciplinary approaches.
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence, Machines and Algorithms can`t cry
The pursuit of instilling emotions in machines, particularly through artificial intelligence, has
captured widespread interest across disciplines. Yet, a striking limitation remains: machines
cannot shed human tears. This observation raises profound questions about the motivation
behind creating robots and other intelligent entities capable of mimicking human emotions. At
the core of this inquiry is a paradox, that is, emotions in humans are cultivated through lived
experiences and interactions with other human beings, not through engagement with machines.
Emotions are deeply rooted in biological, social, and cultural contexts that inorganic systems,
including AI, cannot replicate or fully comprehend.
This paper explores the underlying reasons for humanity`s desire to imbue machines with
emotional capacities through artificial intelligence. Are these efforts driven by a need for
companionship, the enhancement of human-machine interaction, or the illusion of empathy in
artificial systems? Furthermore, what are the ethical and philosophical implications of attempting
to recreate human emotionality in entities fundamentally disconnected from the organic
experiences that give emotions their meaning? Ultimately, this paper seeks to examine why we
strive to instill emotions in inorganic machines and whether such efforts bridge or widen the gap
between humanity and its technological creations.
