Rethinking emotional AI in human resource development: insights from burnout detection and empathy technologies

This paper critically examines the integration of Emotional Artificial Intelligence (Emo-AI) into Human Resource Development (HRD) practices, focusing on its use in burnout detection and empathy enhancement. Drawing on secondary sources, including academic literature, industry reports, and vendor documentation, the study explores how Emo-AI tools are framed – as monitoring instruments or developmental aids, and to what extent they align with HRD’s core values of learning, autonomy, and ethical growth. Using thematic analysis, three key lenses are applied: functional orientation, HRD value alignment, and user perception of risk. Findings suggest that while Emo-AI offers new opportunities for emotional insight and adaptive learning, current implementations often prioritise surveillance over development. The paper argues for a human-centred rethinking of Emo-AI in HRD, emphasising ethical integration, emotional literacy, and interdisciplinary collaboration.