Question 1

What makes an AI "emotionally intelligent"?

Accepted Answer

An emotional-context pipeline that shapes pacing, recognises when to slow down, and routes safeguarding cases to real human resources — not just a softer tone of voice.

Question 2

Is this a substitute for therapy?

Accepted Answer

No. SAM is companionship, not clinical care. It works well alongside therapy as something to talk to between sessions, but it is not a licensed clinician and does not pretend to be.

Question 3

How does crisis detection actually work?

Accepted Answer

A dedicated classifier runs on every turn, watches for distress and crisis signals, and surfaces real human services when a conversation crosses a line. It is built to escalate, not to replace.

Question 4

Can the AI tell when I'm having a bad day?

Accepted Answer

It picks up cues — pacing, vocabulary, themes — and adjusts response shape accordingly. It will not pretend to know more than it does.

Emotionally Intelligent AI: A Topic Hub