About Mollei
An open source research community exploring how to build AI that genuinely understands human emotion.
The Project
Mollei started with a simple observation: most AI systems that interact with humans have no understanding of how those humans feel. They process words, not emotions. They optimize for efficiency, not empathy.
We're exploring what it takes to change this. Not building a product, but researching foundations — investigating approaches that could help AI systems develop genuine emotional intelligence.
This is a long-term exploration. Emotional intelligence in AI isn't a feature you bolt on — it's a fundamental shift in how systems are designed. We're committed to understanding it deeply before claiming to have solved it.
Philosophy
We believe emotional intelligence in AI is not about simulating emotions or manipulating users. It's about building systems that can recognize, interpret, and respond to human emotional states with appropriate nuance.
Human-centered: Every design decision considers the humans on both sides — developers building these tools, and the people they're meant to help.
Transparent: Emotional AI should be auditable. We document our approaches, publish our research, and welcome scrutiny.
Responsible: We acknowledge the weight of this work. Emotional AI can help or harm. We build with ethics as a foundation, not an afterthought.
Governance
Mollei is community-governed. Major decisions are made through open discussion and consensus-building, with input from active contributors.
We use a RFC (Request for Comments) process for significant changes. Anyone can propose ideas. Discussion happens in the open. Decisions are documented with reasoning.
Core maintainers are responsible for day-to-day project health, but they serve the community — not the other way around. This project belongs to everyone who builds it.
Contributors
Mollei is built by a growing community of developers, researchers, designers, and ethicists who believe in emotionally intelligent AI done right.
We recognize all forms of contribution — code, documentation, design, community support, and thoughtful criticism. Everyone who helps shape this project is part of what makes it possible.
Want to see your name here? Learn how to contribute.