The Presence Engine™ Thesis introduces Human-Centric AI Experiences™ (AX), a new category of emotional AI infrastructure that prioritizes presence, trust, and dignity over productivity and data extraction. This white paper outlines the core problem of depersonalized AI systems, presents the theory of change for AX, and integrates insights from critical thinking dispositions research. By framing emotional presence as foundational infrastructure, Presence Engine™ establishes a pathway for ethical, scalable, and human-aligned AI systems.