Designing Out Stereotypes In Artificial Intelligence: Involving Users In The Personality Design Of A Digital Assistant

Rapid recent advancements in new technologies and artificial intelligence has led to huge developments in science, technology, medicine and engineering over the last few decades. Recently, developments in the field have tried to create machines that go beyond solving rational, logic based challenges to those that mimic human interaction and in particular emotional intelligence. One of the most mainstream applications of this technology is in digital assistants; tools designed to achieve a result using natural language.In this paper, we present the findings from a short design research project with a major global accounting firm that aimed to design the personality of a digital assistant. We will present how design methods such as people centred and inclusive design can be used as a tool to build a non stereotypical digital character.