Solsten, a Minneapolis-based psychological intelligence company, has launched a psychometric engine designed to help AI systems understand human motivation beyond surface-level behaviour patterns. The platform integrates clinical psychology and behavioural science into AI systems through API integration. The technology addresses what Solsten calls the "intent gap", where AI predicts user actions but fails to understand underlying motivations. The system interprets personality traits, motivational patterns, cognitive styles and value systems in real time, enabling AI to respond with contextual appropriateness. CEO Joe Schaeppi stated that AI without psychological understanding risks eroding user trust through misinterpreted intentions. The platform aims to provide applications in healthcare, fintech and generative marketing, moving systems from short-term optimisation towards long-term human alignment. Solsten has not disclosed funding details or commercial partnerships.

Say goodbye to generic AI; hello to Empathic Intelligence with new AI tool Elaris. Solsten launched Elaris, an empathic intelligence platform that helps marketers understand audiences through real psychological data rather than text-based patterns. Built on insights from 3.4 billion profiles, Elaris enables emotionally intelligent, data-driven marketing, compressing strategy cycles and redefining how brands connect with consumers. Minnesota, United States, December 19, 2025 - Solsten, a leading cognitive-behavioral artificial intelligence company, announces the launch of Elaris, its newest empathic intelligence platform that transforms how marketers understand and engage with their audiences. It addresses a critical gap in modern marketing where traditional AI systems generate content based on text patterns rather than genuine human understanding. Photo courtesy of Elaris The Science Behind Elaris Elaris is a new AI grounded not in content scraping but in empathic intelligence. Unlike traditional AI systems that generate content based on text patterns, Elaris uses real human assessments rather than inferred behavior patterns, ensuring that audience insights reflect genuine psychological motivations rather than algorithmic assumptions. Its capabilities are built on anonymized, first-party psychological data encompassing the psychological profiles of 3.4 billion people across 400,000 brands and interests. This data set is collected through years of scientific research and partnerships with leading digital platforms, measuring over 250 psychological traits to identify the underlying motivations, values, and emotional drivers influencing consumer behavior. "AI that doesn't understand people is just artificial," says Joe Schaeppi, chief executive officer and co-founder of Solsten, the company behind Elaris. "The future of AI isn't artificial; it's deeply human, emotionally intelligent, audience-aware, and trust-building. Elaris is the infrastructure for that future." Empathic Intelligence Redefines Marketing Strategy Elaris's technology is designed to break the cycle of disconnected marketing by helping marketers understand exactly who their audiences are and what motivates a genuine response for more efficient and resonant communications. For instance, the platform's conversational interface allows marketers to interact directly with living audience personas that evolve with changing market conditions and consumer sentiment. It will enable them to move beyond surface-level targeting based on demographics or browsing history to understand the authentic psychological needs that drive purchasing decisions. "We've been told for years that AI would replace human creativity," says Bastian Bergmann, chief operating officer and co-founder of Solsten. "Elaris does the opposite. It gives creators the empathy and precision they've been missing, so they can make products and experiences that resonate instantly." Elaris compresses the traditional marketing development cycle from weeks to minutes by providing instant access to psychologically-informed audience insights. These dynamic models enable teams to test messaging, creative concepts, and campaign strategies before launch, significantly reducing the trial-and-error cycle that characterizes traditional marketing approaches. Elaris' recommendations are continuously updated as new psychological data is collected, ensuring that audience models remain current with shifting consumer attitudes and market dynamics. It moves beyond static persona development methods that rely on outdated survey data or demographic generalizations. Elaris: The Next Big Thing in AI Elaris enables brands of all sizes to access audience intelligence previously available only through expensive custom research projects. The platform has generated significant market interest, with over 14,000 professionals joining the waitlist before launch. ElarisPro, the platform's premium offering, is also now available to marketers who want immediate access to the technology. "The future of AI won't belong to the loudest brands or the biggest budgets. It will belong to the brands that understand people best," Schaeppi concluded. "Elaris provides that understanding at scale, with the scientific rigor and privacy protection that modern marketing requires." You can join the waitlist at www.elaris.new, or you can skip the waitlist and get ElarisPro now, with access to over 200,000 audiences. People from Rovio, the makers of Angry Birds, Bacardi, and top agencies like WRTHY are already in ElarisPro. Solsten is a global leader in cognitive-behavioral artificial intelligence, specializing in audience-centric data science for marketing and product development. With a scientific foundation and clinical-grade psychological analytics, Solsten empowers brands to build authentic consumer connections. In addition to its empathic intelligence platform, Elaris, Solsten offers other innovative products, such as Navigator, an audience insights tool for validating product ideas, and Traits, which delivers a deep psychological understanding of customer motivations and personalities. The company has been recognized for breakthrough innovation and is trusted by prominent organizations across technology, gaming, and consumer brands. Contact Info: Name: Joe Schaeppi Email: Send Email Organization: Elaris Website: https://www.elaris.new Should any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies arise from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our efficient team will be at your disposal for timely assistance within 8 hours - taking necessary measures to rectify identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. We prioritize delivering accurate and reliable information. Markets Insider and Business Insider Editorial Teams were not involved in the creation of this post.