Reddit Conversation Laboratory: Field experiments with conversational AI agents

Abstract

LLM-based generative AI agents are the first autonomous technologies that can act as true conversational partners. Communication researchers and others have already begun to explore the influence of AI conversations on their interlocutors. We present a methodological framework and software tool for conducting field experiments with AI agents on Reddit. The Reddit Conversational Laboratory is Python-based software that identifies potential participants, messages and consents them, and conducts conversational experiments with researcher-designed AI chatbots. In addition to storing all conversations, the software can also record participant behavior before and after conversations. In this paper, we outline design principles, best practices for using the tool, and possibilities for future extensions.

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