Global Voices: AI Persona Lab (consumer persona chatbot)

Global Voices: AI Persona Lab is an educational innovation that transforms theoretical learning into dynamic, experiential simulations using AI-powered personas. Initially applied in a consumer behavior module in Malaysian higher education, the Lab enables students to interact with hyper-realistic AI chatbots representing diverse cultural, generational, and consumer profiles. These personas exhibit nuanced decision-making, emotional depth, and cultural authenticity, allowing students to practice inquiry-driven engagement in a low-stakes yet realistic environment. The platform integrates GPT-4o for natural language processing, ElevenLabs for voice synthesis, and Deepgram for speech-to-text, supporting unscripted, adaptive conversations. Grounded in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, the Lab guides students through insight gathering, analysis, strategy design, and virtual marketplace testing, fostering empathy, cross-cultural competency, and applied problem-solving. Its tool-agnostic, web-based design ensures accessibility and scalability across disciplines such as healthcare, tourism, and design. The innovation has yielded measurable improvements in student engagement and performance, positioning it as a adaptable, human-centered model for AI-enhanced education.