# When Teams Embrace AI: Human Collaboration Strategies in Generative Prompting in a Creative Design Task

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2509.21731 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.21731/

## Key facts

- Cited by 8 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- First posted on arXiv 26 Sep 2025.

## Built on by (most cited first, 8 of 8)

- [AnimAgents: Coordinating Multi-Stage Animation Pre-Production with Human-Multi-Agent Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.17906/) (2025)
- ["Not Human, Funnier": How Machine Identity Shapes Humor Perception in Online AI Stand-up Comedy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.12763/) (2026)
- [AI in the Workplace: The Impact of AI on Perceived Job Decency and Meaningfulness](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.28680/) (2026)
- [The New Social Image: How AI Competency and AI Proactivity Influence Self- and Peer-Perceptions in the Workplace](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.00182/) (2026)
- [Man, Machine, and Masterpiece: Artistic Ownership in the AI Era](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.15027/) (2026)
- ["Nobody Did This": Contribution, Originality, and Accountability in Agent-Mediated Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.26387/) (2026)
- [From Style Replication to Style Exploration: Enabling Art Style Exploration with Analyze-Experiment-Resituate Framework](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.14405/) (2026)
- [MOONWALK: Mediating Operations with Intent-Evidence-Action Alignment Across Junior-Supervisor Review Workflows in Animation/VFX Pre-Production](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.10385/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Studies of Generative AI (GenAI)-assisted creative workflows have focused on individuals overcoming challenges of prompting to produce what they envisioned. When designers work in teams, how do collaboration and prompting influence each other, and how do users perceive generative AI and their collaborators during the co-prompting process? We engaged students with design or performance backgrounds, and little exposure to GenAI, to work in pairs with GenAI to create stage designs based on a creative theme. We found two patterns of collaborative prompting focused on generating story descriptions first, or visual imagery first. GenAI tools helped participants build consensus in the task, and allowed for discussion of the prompting strategies. Participants perceived GenAI as efficient tools rather than true collaborators, suggesting that human partners reduced the reliance on their use. This work highlights the importance of human-human collaboration when working with GenAI tools, suggesting systems that take advantage of shared human expertise in the prompting process.