Stressed? We're teaching computers to help handle our feelings

Some humans just know when and how to offer a word of emotional support. Now computers are learning too, with the creation of a new algorithm that aims to deliver the right words at the right time. "There's a lot of need for emotional support at the moment," says Judith Masthoff at the University of Aberdeen, UK, who is designing the system. "We have increased rates of mental health issues, and this has led to increased rates of informal care." Trained professionals are only available for the most extreme cases, so Masthoff suggests that people could get instant support from apps instead.