Battle of the Personas: Exploring Human and AI-Generated Personas in Information Systems
Kenza Karmil, Burcu Koçlu, Lea Wöbbekind · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) · 2026
The widespread use of generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) has prompted Library and Information Science (LIS) researchers to explore its accessibility in scientific research and its impact on user experience (UX) when using information services. This study explores the role of GenAI in persona creation within Information Systems (IS), focusing on a hypothetical mobile application, Legalese, designed to support non-European international students in Germany. Using the AI interface Universität Hildesheim Künstliche Intelligenz 4 Turbo (UHiKI), which was developed for the University of Hildesheim based on OpenAI’s API, a persona was generated and compared to one developed by the researchers. Through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires to 10 participants, the study investigates whether AI-generated personas better reflect user needs and how they are perceived. Findings highlight AI’s potential in persona design and reveal common misconceptions about AI’s creative role.