Experiencing Anthropic's Interviewer: A New Way to Voice AI Concerns

Exploring why all AI tools start to feel similar, Anthropic has introduced a feedback mechanism designed to understand what individuals genuinely seek in AI solutions.

Anthropic launched a unique chatbot experience that takes about 10 to 15 minutes, conducting real-time, adaptive interviews. Post-interview, a combination of AI-driven analysis and human insights work together to decode how people weave AI into their everyday lives.

"AI is part of millions of daily routines. As creators of AI, our goal is to grasp usage motives and impacts on users," Anthropic explained on their blog. "The feedback gathered is crucial for crafting smarter AI solutions, besides being a fundamental sociological inquiry of our time."

Interested participants can join the upcoming research stage, but with the pilot lasting just one week, swift action is advised.

Utilizing Anthropic's Interviewer: Steps and Insights

Prior to the official release, Anthropic tested Interviewer on a group of 1,250 professionals, gleaning initial insights aimed at evaluating the tool's overall performance.

The operation of Interviewer is segmented into three phases: preparation, execution, and analysis.

During preparation, a consistent interview framework is established, enabling coherent research queries across a plethora of sessions while adapting to diverse interviewer characteristics. Anthropic designed a foundational system prompt to guide the Interviewer's approach, fine-tuning it with specific inquiries and discussion flows, later polished by human experts.

In execution, the tool implements scaled-up interviews adhering to a set directive on conducting effective sessions. Subsequently, collaborative analysis between researchers and Claude on transcripts leads to theme identification and the compilation of a thorough report.

The public pilot allows open participation, with gathered insights reviewed anonymously not only as societal impact study data but also intended for a forthcoming publication.

When I tried it, the flow of conversation impressed me, as did the depth of inquiry. The tool consistently acknowledged and expanded on my responses, confirming details to ensure alignment with my intents, resulting in a more fulfilling experience compared to previous surveys.

Towards the end, Interviewer posed an open-ended question, inviting additional feedback beyond predefined topics. Despite its thoroughness, the entire experience took just six minutes, significantly less than the estimated duration.

Outcomes from Interviewer's Initial Research

Anthropic shared robust findings following the tool's unveiling. The results paralleled current trends concerning AI adoption and efficiency in professional environments. Notably, the survey found that 86% of users attribute time savings to AI, with 65% content with its role in their work areas.

Moreover, 65% characterized AI's functionality as supportive rather than replaceable. Yet, apprehensions about technological impacts on employment and usage boundaries surfaced, with 55% wary about AI's long-term effects on their careers and 25% concerned about appropriate application constraints.

Addressing the creative, scientific, and general working populace, the report provided detailed outlooks across various professional fields like writing, visual arts, craftsmanship, and sciences. To see a comprehensive version of these insights.