Researchers at the University of Geneva and the University of Bern tested six artificial intelligence systems (AI) for emotional intelligence. They used ChatGPT and other large language models (LLMs).
The researchers wanted to see if AI could suggest good behavior in emotional situations. They shared their findings in Communications Psychology.
The researchers picked five tests often used in studies and businesses. These tests had scenarios with strong emotions. The scenarios checked how well someone understands and handles emotions. Emotional intelligence, or EI, means knowing and managing feelings well. For example, in one scenario, a colleague stole Michael’s idea and got praise. The test asked what Michael should do. The best choice was to talk to his boss, not argue or stay quiet.
AI Creates New Tests
The researchers gave these tests to six AI systems, including ChatGPT-4 and Claude 3.5 Haiku. They also gave the tests to humans. The AI systems scored much higher than humans. AI got 82% of answers right, while humans got 56%. This suggests AI understands emotions and knows how to act wisely.
Next, the researchers asked ChatGPT-4 to make new emotional intelligence tests. It created new scenarios quickly. Over 400 people took these new tests. The tests were clear and realistic, just like the original ones. Making the original tests took years, but AI did it fast. This shows AI can not only pick the best answers but also create new situations.
‘They proved to be as reliable, clear and realistic as the original tests, which had taken years to develop,’’ note the researchers in a press release. ‘‘LLMs are therefore not only capable of finding the best answer among the various available options, but also of generating new scenarios adapted to a desired context. This reinforces the idea that LLMs, such as ChatGPT, have emotional knowledge and can reason about emotions,’
The findings suggest AI could help in areas like education and coaching. It might also assist in solving conflicts. However, experts must guide its use to ensure it works well.