aalto1 untyped-item.component.html
Generative AI personas considered harmful? Putting forth twenty challenges of algorithmic user representation in human-computer interaction
Loading...
Access rights
openAccess
CC BY-NC-ND
CC BY-NC-ND
Creative Commons license
Except where otherwised noted, this item's license is described as openAccess
publishedVersion
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Date
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
21
Series
International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, Volume 205
Abstract
Generative AI personas (GenAIPs) promise user-centred design efficiency, but their impact on different persona challenges remains unexplored. Inspired by Dijkstra's classic essay on harmful programming constructs, we analyze twenty challenges in persona development using Human-Centered AI principles. Through literature review and expert survey (n = 17), we find that GenAIPs transform rather than eliminate traditional persona challenges. Experts rated all challenges as problematic for GenAIPs (M > 4.0), with the highest concerns for hallucinations (M = 5.94), over-sanitization (M = 5.82), and lack of standardization (M = 5.59). 12 out of 20 challenges are considered more problematic for GenAIPs than conventional personas, particularly bias amplification, validation challenges, and accessibility without expertise. We provide HCAI-grounded guidelines demonstrating that effective GenAIP implementation requires human-AI collaboration rather than automation and prioritizing user welfare over technical efficiency.
Description
Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Keywords
Other note
Citation
Amin, D, Salminen, J, Jansen, B J, Shin, J & Kim, D H 2025, 'Generative AI personas considered harmful? Putting forth twenty challenges of algorithmic user representation in human-computer interaction', International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, vol. 205, 103657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2025.103657