# Feedforward in Generative AI: Opportunities for a Design Space

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.14229 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.14229/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 20 Feb 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Understanding, Protecting, and Augmenting Human Cognition with Generative AI: A Synthesis of the CHI 2025 Tools for Thought Workshop](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.21036/) (2025)
- [Orca: Browsing at Scale Through User-Driven and AI-Facilitated Orchestration Across Malleable Webpages](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.22831/) (2025)
- [Semantic Commit: Helping Users Update Intent Specifications for AI Memory at Scale](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.09283/) (2025)
- [Interaction-Driven Browsing: A Human-in-the-Loop Conceptual Framework Informed by Human Web Browsing for Browser-Using Agents](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.12049/) (2025)
- [Alignment has a Fantasia Problem](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.21827/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Generative AI (GenAI) models have become more capable than ever at augmenting productivity and cognition across diverse contexts. However, a fundamental challenge remains as users struggle to anticipate what AI will generate. As a result, they must engage in excessive turn-taking with the AI's feedback to clarify their intent, leading to significant cognitive load and time investment. Our goal is to advance the perspective that in order for users to seamlessly leverage the full potential of GenAI systems across various contexts, we must design GenAI systems that not only provide informative feedback but also informative feedforward -- designs that tell users what AI will generate before the user submits their prompt. To spark discussion on feedforward in GenAI, we designed diverse instantiations of feedforward across four GenAI applications: conversational UIs, document editors, malleable interfaces, and automation agents, and discussed how these designs can contribute to a more rigorous investigation of a design space and a set of guidelines for feedforward in all GenAI systems.