GroupEnvoy: A Conversational Agent Speaking for the Outgroup to Foster Intergroup Relations

Abstract

Conversational agents have the potential to support intergroup relations when psychological or linguistic barriers prevent direct interaction. Based on intergroup contact theory, we propose GroupEnvoy, a text-based conversational agent that represents outgroup perspectives during ingroup discussions. Its dialogue is grounded in data from a prior outgroup-only discussion. To evaluate this approach and derive design principles, we conducted a mixed-methods, between-subjects study with university students, in which host-country students formed the ingroup and international students formed the outgroup. Ingroup students performed a collaborative task while engaging with outgroup perspectives, either by interacting with GroupEnvoy (AI-mediated contact) or by reading a static document (passive exposure). Quantitatively, AI-mediated contact demonstrated a directional reduction in intergroup anxiety and an improvement in perspective-taking. Qualitatively, AI-mediated contact enhanced outcome expectancies and directed empathy toward the outgroup's evaluations of the ingroup, whereas passive exposure fostered future contact intentions and elicited empathy toward the outgroup's lived experiences. These findings present AI-mediated contact as a promising paradigm for improving intergroup relations.