AI-driven persuasion: systemic biases, corporate data monopolies, and cultural framing shape emotional manipulation
Original framing: “How much is AI hacking your emotions?” — Financial Times
The manipulation of public affect has precedents in wartime propaganda, radio advertising, and Cold‑War disinformation campaigns, which all leveraged emerging media to shape sentiment. Recognising these patterns shows that AI is a technological iteration of a longstanding power tactic rather than an unprecedented threat.
The emotional influence of AI is not a solitary technical glitch but a convergence of data capitalism, historical propaganda practices, and cultural framing that reproduces existing power asymmetries.
By drawing on Indigenous relational ethics, historical analogues, and cross‑cultural regulatory experiences, we can construct governance structures—such as data commons and affective certification—that redistribute control and embed accountability. Scientific rigor must be paired with artistic and spiritual insights to design AI that respects collective affective health. Future scenario modelling shows that without these systemic interventions, affective AI will deepen societal fissures; with them, it can become a tool for democratic deliberation and cultural resilience.