Prompt Sensitivity of Generative Agents: Evidence from an Epidemic Model

Abstract

As generative AI gains traction, researchers are investigating its potential to serve as proxies for humans. From undergoing cognitive psychology experiments to experiencing an epidemic, generative agents, agents powered by generative AI models, produce realistic human behavior when prompted. This study explores the sensitivity of these generative agents' behavior to prompt modifications and varied persona names of the agents. To assess this sensitivity, we use a generative agent epidemic model, wherein each agent is prompted daily on whether it wants to isolate or commingle with other agents. We found that using synonymous prompts results in negligible changes to the model's outcomes. However, minor variations in prompts, as well as contextual changes, do influence the model's results. Lastly, our data indicates that different persona names assigned to generative agents, specifically those imbued with personas, do not significantly impact epidemic outcomes.