An ML-assisted 2-person game that fosters emotionally intimate conversations through co-creative world-building
Role: Lead designer, researcher
Team: Tiffany Chen and Jessica Mindel (software development, data analysis)
Affiliation: MIT Media Lab
Time: October 2022 – current
Abstract
Deep emotional intimacy is a foundational aspect of strong relationships. One strategy technologists use to mediate connection is creating games, which offer fun, emotionally-rich spaces for dynamic social interactions. Other researchers have leveraged advancements in generative AI to explore social communication. In this paper we explore how a game using text-to-image models might induce emotionally intimate conversations. Closer Worlds is an ML-assisted 2-person experience which asks personal questions and creates images in a playful world-building scenario. We explore design principles inspired by facilitation research and assess their effectiveness in a pilot study with 24 participants. We conclude that Closer Worlds elicits self-disclosure behavior, but less than a similar game without the use of generative AI. However, participants enjoy the experience and potential to visually represent shared values.We conclude by discussing future ways to use generative techniques and games to foster circumstances for emotional conversations to emerge.
Closer Worlds Demo
Closer Worlds was published and presented as Late-Breaking work at CHI 2023 in Hamburg.
Participate in future research.
To continue investigating this concept, we intend to launch a new investigation with an iteration of the game which can be played remotely. We’d love to get your feedback! If you’re interested in trying out the game, or hearing about future research opportunities, please fill out this general interest form: interest form