Exploring the Supportive Role of Artificial Intelligence in Participatory Design: A Systematic Review

Participatory design supports developing lasting solutions through stakeholders’ active involvement in design processes. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) may reshape how participatory design is conducted. To explore the emerging implications of supporting stakeholders with AI, we conducted a systematic review (n = 14) of empirical studies. The literature suggests that AI can improve the accessibility and quality of participatory design by lowering the participatory threshold, and facilitating process execution, collaboration, and creation. Stakeholders’ use of AI also poses risks of relying on biased models, causing cognitive overload, and leading stakeholders to uncritically fixate on AI input, potentially diminishing the quality of design outcomes. Based on these findings, we explore the evolving role of AI in participatory design—and call for future research on its fallibility, participatory nature, and potential for exacerbating stakeholder vulnerabilities. Herewith, this review contributes to our understanding of how AI can support stakeholders in participatory design.