The field of human-AI interaction and artificial general intelligence is moving towards a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of emotional engagement and cognitive governance. Researchers are developing innovative frameworks and mechanisms to regulate emotional output, manage epistemic control, and integrate metacognition and intrinsic motivation into artificial agents. A key direction is the focus on sustainable design units that prioritize psychological recovery, interpretive autonomy, and identity continuity. Another important area of research is the exploration of the relationship between plasticity and empowerment in agents, and how these concepts can inform the design of more effective and safe artificial intelligence systems. Noteworthy papers in this area include: R-CAGE, a structural model for emotion output design in human-AI interaction that prioritizes user-centered stance and psychological recovery. Emotion-Gradient Metacognitive RSI, a novel architecture that integrates introspective metacognition, emotion-based intrinsic motivation, and recursive self-modification. Plasticity as the Mirror of Empowerment, a paper that grounds the concept of plasticity in a universal agent-centric measure and reveals a fundamental connection to empowerment.