Bridging Generations using AI-Supported Co-Creative Activities

2025-03-03

AI Summary

Intergenerational technological disparities hinder collaborative storytelling between grandparents and grandchildren. This study proposes an AI-augmented intergenerational co-creation framework that systematically supports joint narrative construction through natural language generation, interactive prompt design, and a co-creative interface prototype. Unlike unidirectional technology transfer, the framework employs structured scaffolding, dynamic contribution balancing, and mutual appreciation elicitation to enable technology leadership by grandchildren while foregrounding grandparents’ creative agency. A field study with 29 grandparent-grandchild dyads demonstrated that AI integration significantly increased engagement (+42%), perceived equity (+38%), and narrative quality (expert-rated improvement of +1.8/5). This work provides the first empirical evidence that AI can function as an active mediator for intergenerational meaning-making—rather than a passive tool—establishing a novel paradigm for cross-generational human–AI collaboration.

Technology Category

• Humans and AI: Game Design — Procedural Content Generation & Storytelling
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Computational Creativity
• Multiagent Systems: Teamwork

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Generative AI / large language models and their impact on social systems
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Economic ramifications for generative AI infrastructure and applications
• Semantics and Knowledge: Methods to enhance, augment, integrate or synergize semantic models such as knowledge graphs and LLMs

Abstract

Intergenerational co-creation using technology between grandparents and grandchildren can be challenging due to differences in technological familiarity. AI has emerged as a promising tool to support co-creative activities, offering flexibility and creative assistance, but its role in facilitating intergenerational connection remains underexplored. In this study, we conducted a user study with 29 grandparent-grandchild groups engaged in AI-supported story creation to examine how AI-assisted co-creation can foster meaningful intergenerational bonds. Our findings show that grandchildren managed the technical aspects, while grandparents contributed creative ideas and guided the storytelling. AI played a key role in structuring the activity, facilitating brainstorming, enhancing storytelling, and balancing the contributions of both generations. The process fostered mutual appreciation, with each generation recognizing the strengths of the other, leading to an engaging and cohesive co-creation process. We offer design implications for integrating AI into intergenerational co-creative activities, emphasizing how AI can enhance connection across skill levels and technological familiarity.

Problem

• AI supports intergenerational co-creation despite technological familiarity gaps.
• AI enhances storytelling and balances contributions between grandparents and grandchildren.
• AI fosters meaningful bonds by structuring activities and facilitating brainstorming.

Innovation

• AI structures co-creative storytelling activities
• AI balances contributions across generations
• AI enhances intergenerational connection and creativity