The Coactive Author: My Framework for AI-Augmented Research
A Note on Transparency
I believe that as we move into an era of ubiquitous AI, transparency is a professional imperative. I am writing this to be clear with my audience: I use Gemini (and AI in general) as a collaborative partner to help share and refine my ideas. While the technology helps me structure and polish the content, the core theses, the professional insights, and the lived experiences are entirely mine. Each article is "pressure-tested" through a rigorous human-in-the-loop process, ensuring that the final output meets the high standards of an expert-level author.
In the evolving landscape of Human-Computer Interaction, I view Generative AI not as a "ghostwriter," but as a Collaborative Intelligence (CI) partner. This allows me to focus on my ideas, what I want to communicate, and also introduces me to new ideas along the way.
In addition, it is a meta-experiement as some ideas diverge from my intended goal thanks to AI not be 100% aligned with my own thoughts, but this in its self helps in some of the subjects, such as dark patterns and subtle persuassion. Thankfully, I’m not trying to sell you anything.
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How I use AI to write:
1. The Silicon Devil’s Advocate
The greatest risk in design thinking is the echo chamber. I use Gemini to stress-test my hypotheses before they become articles.
Challenging the Premise: I prompt the AI to challenge my ideas using specific analogies or real-world industrial scenarios (e.g., "How would this dark pattern play out in a cockpit vs. a social media app?").
Finding the Fundamental Point: By forcing the AI to argue against me, I strip away the fluff to find the "indisputable truth" at the center of the discussion.
2. Synthesizing Multi-Disciplinary Data
UX Research at a senior level requires bridging the gap between behavioral science, data analytics, and business strategy.
Vocabulary Expansion: I use Gemini to discover and define new terms and theoretical concepts within the AI and Human Factors sphere. This ensures I am using the precise lexicon required to communicate with engineers and cognitive scientists.
Learning in Real-Time: It acts as an interactive library, helping me stay current on theoretical ideas to ensure I am communicating effectively within the high-level spheres of Human Factors and HCI.
3. Narrative Pressure Testing
A common challenge in long-form research is "thematic drift." I use AI to audit the structural integrity of my writing.
Audit for Divergence: I ask the AI to map the narrative flow of my draft to see if I started with one premise but subtly diverged into another as new information emerged.
Intentional Narrative: This allows me to focus on key points and ensure the content fits the larger narrative, tone, and intended goal of the piece.
4. Tone Refinement & Rapid Prototyping
Effective communication is as much about what you remove as what you include.
Noise Reduction: I use AI to analyze my tone and ask: "Does this content advance my core argument clearly and concisely, or is it just adding noise?"
Iterative Drafting: I treat prose like a product. I use AI for the "rapid prototyping" of written ideas—testing different ways to express a thought to see which is the most impactful. It isn’t always perfect on the first pass, but it provides a workspace for me to refine my message.
Conclusion: The Modern Scaffold
Every article I publish is the result of countless ideas, versions, and rewrites. Gemini provides the scaffold that allows me to build higher and faster.
By using AI as an interactive library—constantly questioning it to build my own breadth and depth—I can refine MY original ideas into a format that is effective, professional, and impactful. In a complex technological landscape, this coactive approach ensures that I am not just a spectator of AI, but a practitioner using it to communicate the future of Human Factors.