# Multi-Agents are Social Groups: Investigating Social Influence of Multiple Agents in Human-Agent Interactions

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2411.04578 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.04578/

## Key facts

- Cited by 16 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 27 of its 124 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 7 Nov 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 27 of 27)

- [Generative Agents: Interactive Simulacra of Human Behavior](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.03442/) (2023)
- [A Survey on Large Language Model based Autonomous Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.11432/) (2023)
- [MetaGPT: Meta Programming for A Multi-Agent Collaborative Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.00352/) (2023)
- [Improving Factuality and Reasoning in Language Models through Multiagent Debate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.14325/) (2023)
- [Large Language Model based Multi-Agents: A Survey of Progress and Challenges](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01680/) (2024)
- [Executable Code Actions Elicit Better LLM Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01030/) (2024)
- [Using Large Language Models to Simulate Multiple Humans and Replicate Human Subject Studies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.10264/) (2022)
- [ReConcile: Round-Table Conference Improves Reasoning via Consensus among Diverse LLMs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.13007/) (2023)
- [Social Simulacra: Creating Populated Prototypes for Social Computing Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2208.04024/) (2022)
- [OpenAGI: When LLM Meets Domain Experts](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.04370/) (2023)
- [FinMem: A Performance-Enhanced LLM Trading Agent with Layered Memory and Character Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2311.13743/) (2023)
- [Co-Writing with Opinionated Language Models Affects Users' Views](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.00560/) (2023)
- [Scalable Multi-Robot Collaboration with Large Language Models: Centralized or Decentralized Systems?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.15943/) (2023)
- [Examining Inter-Consistency of Large Language Models Collaboration: An In-depth Analysis via Debate](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.11595/) (2023)
- ['It's Reducing a Human Being to a Percentage'; Perceptions of Justice in Algorithmic Decisions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1801.10408/) (2018)
- [Exploring LLM-based Agents for Root Cause Analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.04123/) (2024)
- [Designing Creative AI Partners with COFI: A Framework for Modeling Interaction in Human-AI Co-Creative Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.07666/) (2022)
- [Shaping Human-AI Collaboration: Varied Scaffolding Levels in Co-writing with Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.11723/) (2024)
- [Effects of Persuasive Dialogues: Testing Bot Identities and Inquiry Strategies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.04564/) (2020)
- [ChoiceMates: Supporting Unfamiliar Online Decision-Making with Multi-Agent Conversational Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.01331/) (2023)
- [Beyond ChatBots: ExploreLLM for Structured Thoughts and Personalized Model Responses](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.00763/) (2023)
- [Touch Your Heart: A Tone-aware Chatbot for Customer Care on Social Media](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1803.02952/) (2018)
- [One Agent To Rule Them All: Towards Multi-agent Conversational AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.07665/) (2022)
- [Help Me Reflect: Leveraging Self-Reflection Interface Nudges to Enhance Deliberativeness on Online Deliberation Platforms](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.10820/) (2024)
- [Engaged and Affective Virtual Agents: Their Impact on Social Presence, Trustworthiness, and Decision-Making in the Group Discussion](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.10385/) (2023)
- [Understanding How Psychological Distance Influences User Preferences in Conversational Versus Web Search](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.19982/) (2024)
- [The Use of Multiple Conversational Agent Interlocutors in Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.16534/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 16 of 16)

- [Scheming Ability in LLM-to-LLM Strategic Interactions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.12826/) (2025)
- [Games Agents Play: Towards Transactional Analysis in LLM-based Multi-Agent Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.21354/) (2025)
- [AI-exhibited Personality Traits Can Shape Human Self-concept through Conversations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.12727/) (2026)
- [Multi-Agent Systems Shape Social Norms for Prosocial Behavior Change](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.07433/) (2026)
- [More Isn't Always Better: Balancing Decision Accuracy and Conformity Pressures in Multi-AI Advice](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.22152/) (2026)
- [Relational Priors as Convergence Pressure in LLM-Based Multi-Agent Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.03239/) (2026)
- [From Divergence to Consensus: Evaluating the Role of Large Language Models in Facilitating Agreement through Adaptive Strategies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.15521/) (2025)
- [When AI Gets Persuaded, Humans Follow: Inducing the Conformity Effect in Persuasive Dialogue](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.04229/) (2025)
- [Group Deliberation Oriented Multi-Agent Conversational Model for Complex Reasoning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.24613/) (2025)
- [When Nobody Around Is Real: Exploring Public Opinions and User Experiences On the Multi-Agent AI Social Platform](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2601.18275/) (2026)
- [Collective Opinion Dynamics in Structured LLM Populations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.11312/) (2026)
- [Multi-Agent Consensus as a Cognitive Bias Trigger in Human-AI Interaction](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.22277/) (2026)
- [You Only Align Once: Propagating Cooperative Behaviors in Multi-Agent Systems through Seed Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.27586/) (2026)
- [Agentic Social Affordance Framework (ASAF): Agent Identity Design as a Collaboration Interface in Multi-Agent Systems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.09832/) (2026)
- [Ethics Training Agents: Facilitating Group-Based Ethics Education with Role-Playing and Discussion for Ethical Reflection and Exploration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.11529/) (2026)
- [DocuTeam: Mixed-Initiative Multi-Agent Discussions around Evolving Documents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.29309/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Multi-agent systems - systems with multiple independent AI agents working together to achieve a common goal - are becoming increasingly prevalent in daily life. Drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of human group social influence, we investigate whether a group of AI agents can create social pressure on users to agree with them, potentially changing their stance on a topic. We conducted a study in which participants discussed social issues with either a single or multiple AI agents, and where the agents either agreed or disagreed with the user's stance on the topic. We found that conversing with multiple agents (holding conversation content constant) increased the social pressure felt by participants, and caused a greater shift in opinion towards the agents' stances on each topic. Our study shows the potential advantages of multi-agent systems over single-agent platforms in causing opinion change. We discuss design implications for possible multi-agent systems that promote social good, as well as the potential for malicious actors to use these systems to manipulate public opinion.