What is the purpose of emotion, and does an artificial sentient being need it?

I recommend they have them, but they aren’t necessarily required.

Emotions scientifically are a subconscious mental response to chemical release in the body (These have the potentially to be artificially produced). This allows for a person to biologically be rewarded or punished for interacting with a stimuli in a certain way. This is important for define human limitations and comfort. Likes and dislikes. Phobias and fetishes. All which are important to human society: and recommended for AI.