AI vs. human: Exploring the potential of generative AI as a feedback tool to support ideation in design education

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic settings, focusing on its effectiveness in providing feedback during the brainstorming phase of the design process. A controlled study with 25 students (n=25) compared feedback from Generative AI (GPT-4) to that from six human educators. Findings reveal that AI-generated feedback enhances student motivation during ideation and facilitates iterative idea refinement. Generative AI's ability to deliver rapid, scalable feedback proves advantageous in resource-constrained contexts, supporting more effective design processes. This research highlights the potential for AI-driven feedback mechanisms to transform human-AI collaboration in design education, addressing key challenges in personalized and scalable feedback delivery.