Abstract
In the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence, the importance of multimodal sentiment analysis has never been more evident, especially amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Our research addresses the critical need to understand public sentiment across various dimensions of this crisis by integrating data from multiple modalities, such as text, images, audio, and videos sourced from platforms like Twitter. Conventional methods, which primarily focus on text analysis, often fall short in capturing the nuanced intricacies of emotional states, necessitating a more comprehensive approach. To tackle this challenge, our proposed framework introduces a novel hybrid model, IChOA-CNN-LSTM, which leverages Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for precise image feature extraction, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for sequential data analysis, and an Improved Chimp Optimization Algorithm for effective feature fusion. Remarkably, our model achieves an impressive accuracy rate of 97.8%, outperforming existing approaches in the field. Additionally, by integrating the GeoCoV19 dataset, we facilitate a comprehensive analysis that spans linguistic and geographical boundaries, enriching our understanding of global pandemic discourse and providing critical insights for informed decision-making in public health crises. Through this holistic approach and innovative techniques, our research significantly advances multimodal sentiment analysis, offering a robust framework for deciphering the complex interplay of emotions during unprecedented global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.