1. Historical Figure Interview
Course Fit: History, Political Science, Cultural Studies
Overview: Students “interview” a generative AI playing the role of a historical figure (e.g., Mary Wollstonecraft, Frederick Douglass, Ada Lovelace). The AI must answer in the voice, vocabulary, and worldview of the chosen figure, grounded in known historical facts.
Deliverables:
- Transcript of the interview (student-generated questions, AI-generated answers)
- Annotated fact-check commentary identifying accurate, debatable, or inaccurate AI responses
- A brief essay reflecting on how persona influences historical interpretation
- AI Persona Goal:
- Explore the limits of historical empathy and accuracy
- Practice verifying AI outputs against primary and secondary sources
- After the interview and fact-checking, students write a 500–750 word reflection answering:
- How did the persona influence the depth, style, and tone of responses?
- Which responses were clearly shaped by the historical figure’s known worldview?
- Did the persona lead to any overconfident but inaccurate statements?
- How might these shifts affect how audiences interpret history?
2. Peer Reviewer from Another Discipline
Course Fit: Interdisciplinary Research, STEM Communication, Writing Across the Curriculum
Overview: AI takes on the persona of a subject-matter expert from a different discipline than the student’s field. For example, a biology paper is reviewed by “Dr. Rivera, an environmental ethicist,” or a marketing plan is critiqued by “Professor Anwar, a behavioral psychologist.”
Deliverables:
- Original student work
- AI-generated review written entirely in the voice and priorities of the chosen persona
- Student’s response memo addressing the persona’s feedback and explaining which suggestions were incorporated or rejected and why
- AI Persona Goal:
- Experience disciplinary cross-talk
- Learn to adapt writing and argument for multiple audiences
- Alongside the review and response memo, students write a reflection exploring:
- How did the AI’s assumed discipline affect the type of feedback given?
- What blind spots emerged because of the persona’s disciplinary focus?
- Did the AI add relevant but unexpected connections to other fields?
- How could persona-driven peer review change the trajectory of a project?
3. Fictional Character as Debate Partner
Course Fit: Literature, Philosophy, Political Theory
Overview: Students debate a contemporary issue (e.g., data privacy, climate ethics) with AI acting as a fictional character whose worldview is clearly established in their source material (e.g., Elizabeth Bennet, Captain Ahab, Spock).
Deliverables:
- Debate transcript with alternating turns between student and AI persona
- Student’s written analysis of how the character’s moral framework and experiences shape their stance
- Optional creative “epilogue” imagining the character’s next action in the modern world
- AI Persona Goal:
- Practice rhetorical adaptation
- Highlight the role of values, narrative, and backstory in argumentation
- After the debate and analysis, students respond to:
- How did inhabiting the fictional worldview change the shape of the debate?
- Were there moments when the character’s values overrode logic or evidence?
- How did the persona’s voice and style affect emotional tone and persuasion?
- What does this reveal about how narratives shape public discourse?
4. Ghostwriter for a Public Figure
Course Fit: Journalism, Marketing, Public Relations, Political Communication
Overview: AI assumes the role of a speechwriter, campaign strategist, or press secretary for a real or invented public figure. The student must provide the figure’s profile, goals, and constraints, and then evaluate how well AI maintains the voice while meeting communication objectives.
Deliverables:
- AI-generated speech or press release in the persona’s voice
- Annotated stylistic analysis identifying rhetorical strategies, tone markers, and potential PR pitfalls
- Student revision with justification of changes for accuracy, ethics, and audience alignment
- AI Persona Goal:
- Develop style and tone analysis skills
- Explore ethics of ghostwriting and representation
- Following the stylistic analysis and revision, students write about:
- How did persona choice influence rhetorical strategies and tone?
- Did the AI embed unintended bias, exaggeration, or omission in service of the persona?
- How did it handle constraints (e.g., political, cultural, ethical boundaries)?
- What does this suggest about the risks of delegating communication to AI personas?
5. Cultural Mediator in a Conflict Scenario
Course Fit: Anthropology, International Relations, Social Work
Overview: AI embodies a mediator from a specific cultural background, tasked with resolving a fictionalized cross-cultural conflict. Students provide the scenario and then analyze the AI’s negotiation style, assumptions, and blind spots.
Deliverables:
- Transcript of mediation session (student prompts, AI persona responses)
- Cultural analysis of how values, norms, and conflict resolution strategies were represented
- Recommendations for making the approach more equitable and effective
- AI Persona Goal:
- Develop cultural competence
- Recognize how perspective shapes problem-solving approaches
- After producing the mediation transcript and cultural analysis, students reflect on:
- How did the persona’s cultural background shape proposed solutions?
- Were any cultural assumptions overly generalized or misrepresented?
- Did the persona produce more trust-building or more bias reinforcement?
- How does this inform the use of AI personas in real-world diplomacy or social work?
