Theories and Skills for Designing Generative AI-based Chatbots from a Communication Perspective

Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has been integrated into everyday life as a powerful tool for a wide range of tasks across diverse fields. Although academic disciplines such as computer and data science and software engineering are at the core of training GAI talent in higher education, the fundamental way users interact with GAI closely resembles conventional interpersonal communication between two entities. This suggests that theories and research findings from the field of communication (COM) can be applied to GAI for further advancement, as COM scholars have a deep understanding of how individuals’ perceptions and behaviors are shaped by various contextual and technological cues encountered during communication processes.This project will first equip students with various COM theories and concepts that inform how users perceive and engage with technology, and enable them to develop theory- and evidence-based design strategies that foster overall positive user experiences when interacting with GAI. Students will then create GAI chatbots tailored to a specific purpose of their choice, such as career counseling, customer service, or health consultation, and integrate the chatbots into their mobile app prototypes developed alongside the chatbots. The project will culminate in a showcase where students present their final work, evaluated by the PI and industry experts based on theory, design, usability, and marketability. By bridging theory with practical applications, this project aims to prepare students for future opportunities in an AI-driven landscape.