Automating Empathy

In his talk “Automating Empathy,” media artist and robotics researcher Moritz Simon Geist explores the boundary between humans and machines. As AI systems increasingly shape our everyday lives, a fundamental question arises: Can algorithms simulate—or even generate—empathy? Geist presents his research at the intersection of semiconductor physics, robotics, and music production, demonstrating how autonomous machines become more than mere tools—they evolve into agents with their own “agency.”

Drawing on his installations, which have been exhibited worldwide (including at the Venice Biennale and the MIT Museum), Geist explains how generative algorithms and computer vision are used to modulate sound and movement in response to the audience’s presence and attention. It is no longer just about programming a robot, but about creating an emotional resonance. The talk offers exclusive insights into his work as an artist-in-residence at Sony CSL Paris and discusses the materiality and fragility of technological systems. A discourse on the future of creativity and the question of what happens when machines begin to react “humanely” to our presence.