Rosalind Picard is the founder and director of the Affective Computing Research Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab, a field she pioneered with her 1997 book Affective Computing. Her work focuses on using technology to recognize, understand, and respond to human emotions, with applications in health care, autism research, and human-computer interaction.
Key facts about her work and beliefs include:
Affective Computing: She is a leading expert in affective computing, also known as artificial emotional intelligence. Her research has led to the co-founding of successful companies like Affectiva and Empatica, which develop wearable sensors and AI for health applications, including seizure monitoring.
Religious beliefs: Raised an atheist, Picard converted to Christianity as an adult. She states that her religious faith has shaped her work, expressing a sense of awe for the complexity of human creation.
