Building emotionally intelligent generative AI tutors for education

As Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) becomes increasingly integrated into educational environments, most implementations remain cognitively adaptive- personalizing content based on performance or preferences- while overlooking the vital role of learner emotion. This paper introduces a novel dual-adaptive framework for Emotion-Aware GenAI Tutors (EAGAITs) that combines real-time cognitive modeling with affective sensing to deliver personalized, emotionally intelligent instruction. Drawing on interdisciplinary foundations from educational psychology, affective computing, and AI design, the framework proposes a system that detects learner emotions through multimodal inputs (for example, sentiment, facial expressions, and behavioral patterns) and utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) to adapt both the complexity and tone of feedback. Through real-world use cases across K-12, higher education, and MOOCs, this paper illustrates how EAGAITs enhance engagement, persistence, and learning outcomes. The proposed framework aims to inspire the development of human-centered AI systems that understand what learners know and how they feel- bridging cognition and emotion in the next generation of personalized education.