L.I.B.R.A.
Layered Interpretation of Behavioral & Reflective Affect
Tools:
Figma, Blender, Veo Studio, OpenAI APIJanuary 2026
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June 2026Role:
Concept, Research, UX Strategy, Psychology, Ethical Framework, Interaction DesignAn Ambient AI System for Emotional Balance in the Age of Negative Media
LIBRA is an AI-powered system integration designed to live quietly within a user’s phone, helping them become aware of the emotional impact of the content they consume, without surveillance, judgment, or restriction.
Rather than blocking content or enforcing limits, LIBRA acts as a reflective layer—helping users notice patterns and recalibrate when emotional strain accumulates.
What was built
LIBRA is not an app you open.
It is an ambient, system-level presence.
LIBRA:
Runs entirely on-device
Analyzes patterns, not individual moments
Detects emotional tone across news, video, audio, and social content
Tracks duration and repetition of emotionally intense exposure
Never reads messages or records conversations
Never diagnoses mental health conditions
Never sends data off-device
Its role is not constant intervention—but awareness when emotional weight accumulates.
The Problem
Modern digital platforms are optimized for engagement—not emotional health.
Users are:
Exposed to persistent negative news cycles
Doomscrolling late into the night
Absorbing emotionally intense content without pause
Rarely prompted to reflect on how that content affects them
Psychological research shows that prolonged exposure to negative media increases anxiety, emotional fatigue, and stress—especially when combined with repetition and lack of agency.
Most existing “digital wellbeing” tools measure time spent, while ignoring emotional impact.
The core question:
How might we design an AI system that helps people understand how media affects them emotionally—without becoming invasive, prescriptive, or paternalistic?
