معرفی
Andrew McStay is a Professor of Technology & Society at Bangor University's School of History, Law and Social Sciences, where he also serves as Director of the Emotional AI Lab. He is an active researcher, author, and policy advisor specializing in the social implications of emerging technologies, particularly emotional AI and biometrics. His work bridges academic research with practical policy development, advising governmental bodies including the UK Information Commissioner's Office, the United Nations, and industry organizations.
McStay's research interests focus on the intersection of emotional AI, ethics, privacy, and digital advertising. His work examines how technologies that claim to detect and respond to human emotions impact society, with particular attention to children's rights, political manipulation, and commercial applications. He has pioneered research on what he terms 'emotional AI' or 'empathic media,' exploring both the technological capabilities and ethical implications of systems designed to recognize and respond to human emotions.
His recent publications examine the governance challenges of emotional AI technologies, with a particular focus on soft law approaches, deception in human-AI interactions, and cross-cultural differences in ethical standards. His work shows a clear progression from examining advertising and privacy implications of digital technologies to the more complex ethical questions surrounding emotionally-aware AI systems.
- Learning & Teaching Award (2008) from HEFCE/TQEF
- Learning & Teaching Award (2007) from HEFCE/TQEF
- William Evans Fellowship, University of Otago in New Zealand (2019)
McStay actively supervises PhD students working on topics related to digital media, political communication, and China's media landscape. His advisory work extends to numerous governmental and intergovernmental organizations, including contributions to UNICEF's policy guidance on AI for children and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. He is an active standards developer through W3C and IEEE, particularly chairing IEEE P7014.1 on ethical considerations for emulated empathy in AI systems. His Emotional AI Lab at Bangor University serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting social science perspectives with technological development and policy considerations.
