affectiva

Affectiva was co-founded by Rana el Kaliouby, who became chief executive officer as of May 25, 2016,{{Cite press release |last=Affectiva |title=Emotion AI Leader Affectiva Announces $14 Million in Growth Capital |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emotion-ai-leader-affectiva-announces-14-million-in-growth-capital-300274734.html |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}} and Rosalind W. Picard, who worked as chairman and Chief Scientist until 2013. Both of Affectiva's early products grew out of collaborative research at the MIT's Media Lab to help people on the autism spectrum.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=Gil |title=Emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leaders: Rana el Kaliouby, Affectiva |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gilpress/2017/06/12/emerging-artificial-intelligence-ai-leaders-rana-el-kaliouby-affectiva/ |access-date=2020-12-17 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Affectiva was acquired for a mostly-stock deal of $73.5m by Swedish SmartEye, a former competitor.{{Cite web |last=Korosec |first=Kirsten |date=2021-05-25 |title=Emotion-detection software startup Affectiva acquired for $73.5M |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/25/emotion-detection-software-startup-affectiva-acquired-for-73-5m/ |access-date=2023-08-22 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

The company has expanded its Emotion AI technology to detect more than facial expressions, reactions and emotions. Affectiva's software detects complex and nuanced emotions, cognitive states, such as drowsiness and distraction, certain activities and the objects people use. It does that by analyzing the human face, vocal intonations and body posture.

Affectiva's AI is built with deep learning, computer vision, and large amounts of data that has been collected in real-world scenarios.{{Cite web|title=How emotion-tracking A.I. will change computing as we know it|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/rise-of-emotion-tracking-tech/|access-date=2020-12-04|website=www.digitaltrends.com|date=18 April 2019}} The AI uses an optical sensor like a webcam or smartphone camera to identify a human face in real-time. Then, computer vision algorithms identify key features on the face, which are analyzed by deep learning algorithms to classify facial expressions. These facial expressions are then mapped back to emotions. One journal paper found the {{Proper name|Affectiva iMotions Facial Expression Analysis Software}} results are comparable to results using facial Electromyography.{{Cite journal |last1=Kulke |first1=Louisa |last2=Feyerabend |first2=Dennis |last3=Schacht |first3=Annekathrin |date=2020 |title=A Comparison of the Affectiva iMotions Facial Expression Analysis Software With EMG for Identifying Facial Expressions of Emotion |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=11 |page=329 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00329 |pmid=32184749 |pmc=7058682 |issn=1664-1078|doi-access=free }} Affectiva also uses computer vision to detect objects like a cellphone{{Cite web|title=Rana el Kaliouby on LinkedIn: #automotive #technology #ai|url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kaliouby_automotive-technology-ai-activity-6717102467903041536-iL2X|access-date=2020-12-04|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en}} and car seat,{{Cite web|title=Rana el Kaliouby on LinkedIn: #automotive #technology #ai|url=https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kaliouby_automotive-technology-ai-activity-6734938966807736320-IcQ0|access-date=2020-12-04|website=www.linkedin.com|language=en}} as well as body key points, which track body joints to determine movement and location.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=10 September 2020|title=Affectiva Automotive AI: In-Cabin Sensing that transforms road safety and the mobility experience|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=28&v=oSBmMT2dWFo&feature=emb_logo|access-date=|website=Youtube}}

Affectiva has collected massive amounts of data that are used to train and test the company's deep learning algorithms, and [https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201027005291/en/Research-Shows-Advertising-is-Having-a-More-Emotional-Impact-on-Consumers-But-Not-All-Advertisers-Are-Using-Emotions-Effectively provide insight into human emotional reactions and engagement]. The company has analyzed more than 10 million face videos from 90 countries, making it one of the largest data repositories of its kind.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Research Shows Advertising is Having a More Emotional Impact on Consumers, But Not All Advertisers Are Using Emotions Effectively|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201027005291/en/Research-Shows-Advertising-is-Having-a-More-Emotional-Impact-on-Consumers-But-Not-All-Advertisers-Are-Using-Emotions-Effectively|access-date=2020-12-04|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} Affectiva has also collected more than 19,000 hours of automotive in-cabin data from 4,000 unique individuals.{{Cite web|last=Affectiva|title=Affectiva Automotive AI|url=http://go.affectiva.com/auto|access-date=2020-12-04|website=go.affectiva.com|language=en}} This automotive data is used to adapt its algorithms to varying camera angles, lighting and other environmental conditions in a vehicle.

Affectiva's AI had many applications, but the company's primary focus is on Media Analytics.{{Cite web|last=Team|first=Insights|title=Forbes Insights: Designing AI That Knows How You Feel|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-teradata/2019/05/06/designing-ai-that-knows-how-you-feel/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Forbes|language=en}} Other uses of Affectiva's AI includes applications in automotive, healthcare{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Ashley|title=SDK on the Spot: FacePrint Emotion Recognition Program Detects Early Parkinson's Disease Symptoms|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/sdk-on-the-spot-faceprint-emotion-recognition-program-detects-early-parkinsons-disease-symptoms|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|title=AI Reads Human Emotions. Should it?|url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/10/14/1010474/ai-reads-human-emotions-should-it/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=MIT Technology Review|language=en}} and mental health,{{Cite web|date=2019-04-18|title=How emotion-tracking A.I. will change computing as we know it|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/rise-of-emotion-tracking-tech/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Digital Trends|language=en}} robotics,{{Cite web|date=2018-08-28|title=Softbank Robotics enhances Pepper the robot's emotional intelligence|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/08/28/softbank-robotics-enhances-pepper-the-robots-emotional-intelligence/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}} conversational interfaces,{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Ashley|title=Emotion AI for Chat Bots: The Next Wave of Artificial Intelligence|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/emotionai-for-chat-bots-the-next-wave-of-artificial-intelligence|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}} education,{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/emotion-sniffing-learning-apps/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.digitaltrends.com|title=Emotion-Gauging Startup's Learning Apps See if You're Bored|date=13 December 2016}}{{Cite web|last=Kaliouby|first=Rana el|date=2020-06-15|title=Emotionally aware technology could help us beat Zoom fatigue|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90515714/emotionally-aware-technology-could-help-us-beat-zoom-fatigue|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Fast Company|language=en-US}} gaming,{{Cite web|last=Murnane|first=Kevin|title=Gaming: 'Nevermind' Reads Your Mind And Adapts To Your Emotions|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurnane/2016/03/03/gaming-nevermind-reads-your-mind-and-adapts-to-your-emotions/|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Forbes|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-10-17|title=Affectiva Releases Emotion Artificial Intelligence Plug-In for Unity|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161017005176/en/Affectiva-Releases-Emotion-Artificial-Intelligence-Plug-In-for-Unity|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} and more.

Affectiva's technology was first deployed in media analytics, for market research purposes. The company had since then tested more than 53,000 ads in 90 countries.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-27|title=Research Shows Advertising is Having a More Emotional Impact on Consumers, But Not All Advertisers Are Using Emotions Effectively|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201027005291/en/Research-Shows-Advertising-is-Having-a-More-Emotional-Impact-on-Consumers-But-Not-All-Advertisers-Are-Using-Emotions-Effectively|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} Brands, advertising agencies and insights firms used the company's Emotion AI to measure the unfiltered and unbiased emotional responses consumers have when viewing video ads and movie trailers.{{Cite web|last=Affectiva|title=Movie Trailers and Emotion: The Full Story|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/movie-trailers-and-emotion-the-full-story|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}} These insights helped improve brand and media content, and predict key metrics in advertising such as sales lift, purchase intent and virality.{{Cite web|last=Affectiva|title=Affectiva Media Analytics|url=http://go.affectiva.com/affdex-for-market-research|access-date=2020-12-11|website=go.affectiva.com|language=en}} Affectiva's technology was also used in qualitative research.{{Cite web|last=Affectiva|title=The Emotion Behind Your Conversation: Transforming the Online Qual Experience|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/the-emotion-behind-your-online-conversation-transforming-the-qual-experience|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}}

Affectiva had partnered with leading insights firms such as Kantar, LRW, Added Value and Unruly.{{Cite web|last=Affectiva|title=Download: Kantar Webinar on Emotions in Advertising|url=http://go.affectiva.com/en/affectiva-kantar-webinar-emotions-in-advertising-access|access-date=2020-12-11|website=go.affectiva.com|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Ashley|title=Balancing Long-Term Brand Effects and Short-Term Activation with Unruly|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/balancing-long-term-brand-effects-and-short-term-activation-with-unruly|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}} Through these collaborations, 28 percent of the Fortune Global 500 companies, and 70 percent of the world's largest advertisers, used [https://go.affectiva.com/affdex-for-market-research Affectiva's Emotion AI].

On September 5, 2019, Affectiva announced the appointment of Graham Page, a seasoned Kantar executive, as Global Managing Director of Media Analytics to expand on the company's existing footprint in the media analytics space.{{Cite web|date=2019-09-05|title=Affectiva Appoints Graham Page as New Global Managing Director of Media Analytics|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190905005097/en/Affectiva-Appoints-Graham-Page-as-New-Global-Managing-Director-of-Media-Analytics|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}

On March 21, 2018, Affectiva launched Affectiva Automotive AI, the first multi-modal in-cabin sensing solution{{Buzzword inline|date=May 2023}} to understand what is happening with people in a vehicle.{{Cite web|date=2018-03-21|title=Affectiva Launches Multi-Modal Automotive In-Cabin AI to Improve Road Safety and Accelerate Autonomy|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180321005285/en/Affectiva-Launches-Multi-Modal-Automotive-In-Cabin-AI-to-Improve-Road-Safety-and-Accelerate-Autonomy|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} It used cameras in the car to measure in real time, the state of the driver, the state of the occupants and the state of the vehicle interior (i.e. cabin). This insight helped car manufacturers, fleet management companies and rideshare providers improve road safety and build better driver monitoring systems, by understanding dangerous driver behavior such as drowsiness, distraction and anger.{{Cite news|last=Quain|first=John R.|date=2019-03-28|title=Eyes on the Road! (Your Car Is Watching) (Published 2019)|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/28/business/autonomous-cars-technology-privacy.html|access-date=2020-12-11|issn=0362-4331}} It was also used to create more comfortable and enjoyable transportation experiences, by understanding how passengers react to the environment, such as content they can consume in the back of the car.

In addition to understanding driver and occupant emotional and cognitive states, [https://go.affectiva.com/auto Affectiva Automotive AI] could also detect contextual cabin information such as the number of passengers, where they are sitting and if an object is present.

Affectiva worked with a number of leading car manufacturers and transportation technology companies, including Aptiv,{{Cite press release|last=PLC|first=Aptiv|title=Aptiv Partners with Affectiva to Enable the Next Generation Vehicle Experience|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aptiv-partners-with-affectiva-to-enable-the-next-generation-vehicle-experience-300772369.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}} Cerence,{{Cite web|title=Affectiva and Nuance to Bring Emotional Intelligence to AI-Powered Automotive Assistants|url=https://www.nuance.com/en-gb/about-us/newsroom/press-releases/affectiva-and-nuance-to-bring-emotional-intelligence-to-ai-powered-automotive-assistants.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Nuance Communications|language=en-GB}} Hyundai Kia,{{Cite press release|last=America|first=Kia Motors|title=Kia looks to post-autonomous driving era at CES 2019|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-looks-to-post-autonomous-driving-era-at-ces-2019-300774341.html|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en}} Faurecia,{{Cite web|date=2019-06-07|title=Faurecia/Accenture team on Connected Car Lab|url=https://www.just-auto.com/news/faureciaaccenture-team-on-connected-car-lab_id189092.aspx|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.just-auto.com|archive-date=2020-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923042422/https://www.just-auto.com/news/faureciaaccenture-team-on-connected-car-lab_id189092.aspx|url-status=dead}} Porsche,{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Ashley|title=Affectiva Joins Startup Autobahn for Emotion AI Vehicles|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/affectiva-joins-startup-autobahn-for-emotion-ai-enabled-vehicles|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}} BMW,{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Ashley|title=BMW: How In-Cabin Sensing Helps Build the Ultimate In-Vehicle Experience|url=https://blog.affectiva.com/bmw-how-in-cabin-sensing-helps-build-the-ultimate-in-vehicle-experience|access-date=2020-12-11|website=blog.affectiva.com|language=en-us}} GreenRoad Technologies,{{Cite web|date=2018-09-06|title=GreenRoad Technologies and Affectiva Partner to Bring Real-Time Driver Impairment Monitoring to the Fleet Management Market|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180906005073/en/GreenRoad-Technologies-and-Affectiva-Partner-to-Bring-Real-Time-Driver-Impairment-Monitoring-to-the-Fleet-Management-Market|access-date=2020-12-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}} and Veoneer.{{Cite web|title=CES 2019|url=http://www.veoneer.com/en/ces-2019|access-date=2020-12-11|website=Veoneer|language=en}}  

In June 2021 Smart Eye acquired Affectiva.{{Cite web|date=2021-06-23|title=Smart Eye Completes Acquisition of Affectiva|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210623005272/en/Smart-Eye-Completes-Acquisition-of-Affectiva|access-date=2021-06-29|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en}}

• Affective science

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• [https://demo.mr.affectiva.com/ Affectiva Market Research Demo]

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Category:Technology companies established in 2009

Category:MIT Media Lab

Category:Neuropsychology

Category:Affective computing

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