Supporting Empathy in Online Classrooms: How AI tools enhance emotional intelligence

As online learning environments become more complex and emotionally demanding, educators are beginning to explore ways in which they can support their students’ well-being, encourage engagement, and sustain their own emotional resilience. This article considers how AI tools, used ethically and thoughtfully, can help enhance emotional intelligence within online classrooms. Three practical use cases are discussed: AI-powered sentiment analysis, nudging tools that support empathetic teaching, and reflective AI journaling to encourage faculty growth. Each of these examples shows how emotional human connection can be amplified, not replaced, with technology.