? What happens when a virtual human has a personality? ?

For answers to this question, check out our article "The influence of persona and conversational task on social interactions with a LLM-controlled embodied conversational agent".

??? Our study explores how personality traits (extravert vs. introvert) and task types (small talk, knowledge test, persuasion) affect user interactions with LLM-controlled virtual humans in VR.

Key findings are:
? Extraverted agents were perceived as more realistic, engaging, and pleasant.
? Personality shaped social-emotional behavior in virtual interactions-but not the willingness to seek help.
? LLM assistance in knowledge tests increased participants' confidence in their answers.
? LLMs can simulate naturalistic social encounters when embodied as virtual humans.

? Just accepted for the Q1 journal Computers in Human Behavior! ??

? Read the paper here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108759 (external link, opens in a new window)

This work emerged from a collaboration between members of the Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy Group in Regensburg, Leon O. H. Kroczek, Alexander May, Selina Hettenkofer, Andreas Ruider and Andreas Mühlberger, and our Professor for Human-Centred AI, Bernd Ludwig.
?? Hats off to this dream team — bridging psychology and tech to explore social interaction in virtual spaces.

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