Trend Macrotrend 2: AI takes emotional, embodied and socially responsive form
Summary
NTT DATA's second macrotrend holds that AI is leaving text interfaces for digital humans, humanoid robots and affect-aware interfaces embedded in education, healthcare, mobility and public services, and ties the timing to loneliness, skill shortages and demand for more inclusive experiences.
Classification
Main topicAI & Computing
Region menusGlobal
Impactscope:global
Time horizon0-3 years (2026-07-26)
Last updated2026-07-29 04:49:52
Evidence 1
- Technology Foresight 2026: Sustaining growth in the era of mass intelligence NTT DATA page=18;section=2 Embodied agency and emotions / What it is and why it matters now 2026-03 accessed 2026-07-26
Observed signals 5
- Signal88% of marketers are said to use emotion AI daily and CX monitoring to take over 31% of demand
- SignalAffective computing is put at $88.6bn in 2024 growing to $347bn by 2029
- SignalEmotion AI is dated to become part of social infrastructure between 2028 and 2030
- SignalPatient engagement is put at 62% of healthcare AI use and administrative efficiency at 60%
- SignalWearable EDA and heart-rate-variability sensors are credited with up to 84% stress detection accuracy
Part of issues 4
- IssueEmotional AI entering social infrastructure makes privacy and authenticity norms urgent1 trends · 1 signals
- IssueScenario: affective nudging is regulated as a behavioral intervention1 trends · 0 signals
- IssueScenario: team sentiment and stress become live metrics on HR dashboards1 trends · 0 signals
- IssueThe six macrotrends are asserted to be one convergent transformation, not six agendas6 trends · 1 signals
Relation types: constitutes · supports
Public id: fm-0e898113f408