AI-Delphi: Emulating Personas Toward Machine–Machine Collaboration

Recent technological advancements have made Large Language Models (LLMs) easily accessible through apps such as ChatGPT, Claude.ai, Google Gemini, and HuggingChat, allowing text generation on diverse topics with a simple prompt. Considering this scenario, we propose three machine–machine collaboration models to streamline and accelerate Delphi execution time by leveraging the extensive knowledge of LLMs. We then applied one of these models—the Iconic Minds Delphi—to run Delphi questionnaires focused on the future of work and higher education in Brazil. Therefore, we prompted ChatGPT to assume the role of well-known public figures from various knowledge areas. To validate the effectiveness of this approach, we asked one of the emulated experts to evaluate his responses. Although this individual validation was not sufficient to generalize the approach’s effectiveness, it revealed an 85% agreement rate, suggesting a promising alignment between the emulated persona and the real expert’s opinions. Our work contributes to leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Futures Research, emphasizing LLMs’ potential as collaborators in shaping future visions while discussing their limitations. In conclusion, our research demonstrates the synergy between Delphi and LLMs, providing a glimpse into a new method for exploring central themes, such as the future of work and higher education.