More-than-Human Storytelling: Designing Longitudinal Narrative Engagements with Generative AI
This work addresses the problem of designing engaging and ethical generative AI storytelling systems for users, though it is incremental as it provides initial empirical insights rather than a breakthrough.
The study explored longitudinal engagement with a generative AI storytelling app, Dreamsmithy, where 28 participants co-created daily stories with an AI narrator over two weeks, revealing themes like 'oscillating ambivalence' and 'socio-chronological bonding' that highlight complex human-AI dynamics.
Longitudinal engagement with generative AI (GenAI) storytelling agents is a timely but less charted domain. We explored multi-generational experiences with "Dreamsmithy," a daily dream-crafting app, where participants (N = 28) co-created stories with AI narrator "Makoto" every day. Reflections and interactions were captured through a two-week diary study. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed themes likes "oscillating ambivalence" and "socio-chronological bonding," highlighting the complex dynamics that emerged between individuals and the AI narrator over time. Findings suggest that while people appreciated the personal notes, opportunities for reflection, and AI creativity, limitations in narrative coherence and control occasionally caused frustration. The results underscore the potential of GenAI for longitudinal storytelling, but also raise critical questions about user agency and ethics. We contribute initial empirical insights and design considerations for developing adaptive, more-than-human storytelling systems.