# Exploration vs. Fixation: Scaffolding Divergent and Convergent Thinking for Human-AI Co-Creation with Generative Models

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.18388 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.18388/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 32 of its 85 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 20 Dec 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 32)

- [LAION-5B: An open large-scale dataset for training next generation image-text models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.08402/) (2022)
- [Code Llama: Open Foundation Models for Code](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.12950/) (2023)
- [CodeGen: An Open Large Language Model for Code with Multi-Turn Program Synthesis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.13474/) (2022)
- [MagicBrush: A Manually Annotated Dataset for Instruction-Guided Image Editing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.10012/) (2023)
- [Generative artificial intelligence enhances creativity but reduces the diversity of novel content](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.00506/) (2023)
- [A Survey of Controllable Text Generation using Transformer-based Pre-trained Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.05337/) (2022)
- [ChartMimic: Evaluating LMM's Cross-Modal Reasoning Capability via Chart-to-Code Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.09961/) (2024)
- [Homogenization Effects of Large Language Models on Human Creative Ideation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01536/) (2024)
- [Art and the science of generative AI: A deeper dive](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2306.04141/) (2023)
- [Luminate: Structured Generation and Exploration of Design Space with Large Language Models for Human-AI Co-Creation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.12953/) (2023)
- [PromptCharm: Text-to-Image Generation through Multi-modal Prompting and Refinement](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.04014/) (2024)
- [PromptMagician: Interactive Prompt Engineering for Text-to-Image Creation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.09036/) (2023)
- [Shaping Human-AI Collaboration: Varied Scaffolding Levels in Co-writing with Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.11723/) (2024)
- [Human Creativity in the Age of LLMs: Randomized Experiments on Divergent and Convergent Thinking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.03703/) (2024)
- [PromptFix: You Prompt and We Fix the Photo](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.16785/) (2024)
- [The Effects of Generative AI on Design Fixation and Divergent Thinking](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.11164/) (2024)
- [CreativeConnect: Supporting Reference Recombination for Graphic Design Ideation with Generative AI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.11949/) (2023)
- [The AI Ghostwriter Effect: When Users Do Not Perceive Ownership of AI-Generated Text But Self-Declare as Authors](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.03283/) (2023)
- [Understanding Nonlinear Collaboration between Human and AI Agents: A Co-design Framework for Creative Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.07312/) (2024)
- [Synthesizing Tasks for Block-based Programming](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.16913/) (2020)
- [ExpressEdit: Video Editing with Natural Language and Sketching](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.17693/) (2024)
- [AIdeation: Designing a Human-AI Collaborative Ideation System for Concept Designers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.14747/) (2025)
- [Generative AI Literacy: Twelve Defining Competencies](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.12107/) (2024)
- [Inkspire: Supporting Design Exploration with Generative AI through Analogical Sketching](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2501.18588/) (2025)
- [Adaptive Scaffolding in Block-Based Programming via Synthesizing New Tasks as Pop Quizzes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.16359/) (2023)
- [Human-AI Co-Creativity: Exploring Synergies Across Levels of Creative Collaboration](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.12527/) (2024)
- [VideoDiff: Human-AI Video Co-Creation with Alternatives](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.10190/) (2025)
- [Code Shaping: Iterative Code Editing with Free-form AI-Interpreted Sketching](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.03719/) (2025)
- [DesignWeaver: Dimensional Scaffolding for Text-to-Image Product Design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.09867/) (2025)
- [POET: Supporting Prompting Creativity and Personalization with Automated Expansion of Text-to-Image Generation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.13392/) (2025)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [TurtleAI: Benchmarking Multimodal Models for Visual Programming in Turtle Graphics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.03626/) (2026)
- [Beyond "ChatGPT Can Make Mistakes": Designing Interventions to Support Metacognitive Monitoring in AI-Assisted Work](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2609.17065/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Generative AI has democratized content creation, but popular chatbot-based interfaces often prioritize execution, generating fully rendered artifacts right away. This issue can lead to premature convergence and design fixation, where users are being anchored to initial outputs. Recent works have proposed new interfaces to address this issue by supporting exploration, though typically constrained to be semantically close to a user's initial task framing, potentially limiting the creativity of the outcomes. We examine an approach grounded in the Geneplore model of creative cognition and instantiate it in a human-AI co-creation system, HAICo, for creative image generation. HAICo explicitly structures the creative process into two switchable modes: DIVERGENT mode scaffolds the broad exploration of remote conceptual ideas; CONVERGENT mode supports a targeted refinement of selected ideas. Through a within-subjects study (N=24) on a poster image creation task, we demonstrate that HAICo outperforms ChatGPT across multiple dimensions of creativity and usability. Our results highlight the critical need to shift from pure execution-focused chatbots to scaffolded co-creation systems that actively guide exploration and foster the creative process.