Figure 1
A two-by-two matrix illustrates different roles of personal AI agents based on two dimensions. “Goal Alignment” is shown on the left vertical axis, ranging from low at the bottom to high at the top. “Control” is shown on the bottom horizontal axis, ranging from “Service Provider Control” on the left to “Consumer Control” on the right. The matrix is divided into four quadrants. Row 1, Column 1 (High Goal Alignment, Service Provider Control): The title reads, “Service Orchestrator”. The text reads, “Emphasizes the role of the personal AI agent in orchestrating services with a high level of goal alignment, acting as a conductor that aligns provider resources in a consumer-focused way, though ultimately controlled by the provider. (For example, Siri)”. Row 1, Column 2 (High Goal Alignment, Consumer Control): The title reads, “Autonomous Ally”. The text reads, “Represents the consumer’s personal AI agent with greater control to act as an ally. As an ally, the AI agent works closely with the consumer experiencing vulnerability, adapting to their unique needs while offering a sense of autonomy. (For example, Self-created AI agent)”. Row 2, Column 1 (Low Goal Alignment, Service Provider Control): The title reads, “Protective Sentinel”. The text reads, “In this role, the personal AI agent adopts a defensive stance, acting as a ‘Sentinel’ to protect the interests of the consumer. It suggests a gatekeeping role where limited goal alignment exists with service providers to screen, monitor, or restrict certain interactions. (For example, Proton VPN)”. Row 2, Column 2 (Low Goal Alignment, Consumer Control): The title reads, “Reliable Intermediary”. The text reads, “Conveys a facilitating role where the personal AI agent mediates services, controlled by the vulnerable consumer but aligned with providers’ goals only to a limited degree, enabling a balancing act between any conflicting goals with a greater degree of consumer control. (For example, Flow Neuroscience headset)”.Design archetypes: roles of personal AI-agents in CXV. Source: Authors' own work