​Join us for a discussion about synthetic user studies, a new research technique made possible by large language models.

The base idea describes simulating user personas and then interviewing them. This is dramatically cheaper and faster than traditional user research, but critics say it merely pays lip-service to principles of user-centred design.

​Optional Readings

• ​Jie Li (2024), "How Far Can We Go with Synthetic User Experience Research?"

• ​Shrestha et al (2025). "Beyond WEIRD: can synthetic survey participants substitute for humans in global policy research?"

• ​Joon Sung Park et al (2024), "Generative Agent Simulations of 1,000 People"

​Timings

​19:00 Doors
19:15 Mingle
19:30 Opening Talk
19:45 Discussion
20:15 Salon-style Discussion
20:45 Conclusion
21:00 Exit, go to pub

​About the Event Host

​Jamie Coombes is a Newspeak House Fellowship Candidate who regularly creates synthetic datasets as part of their work consulting into UK Government.