Helping storywriters create a cast of characters with a social media inspired AI system

What is it about?

We present Constella, an AI based tool that uses social media-inspired interactions to help storywriters build a cast of characters. Our 7-8 day system deployment study revealed a fascinating shift. Writers didn't just focus on their heroes; they started caring more about 'sidelined' characters! Crucially, we found that the format mattered. Constella generates text in social media-inspired formats (e.g., diary entries) rather than final story text. This turned out to further encourage writers to write scenes themselves, while using the AI outputs as materials for creative interpretation.

Featured Image

Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash

Photo by Dex Ezekiel on Unsplash

Why is it important?

There is much debate over AI and creativity. Our work shows how AI can be designed to support artists, rather than replacing them.