Verbal communication in synchronous collaborative CAD activities: empirical evidence from AI-supported teams

ABSTRACT: This study examines how ChatGPT support influences verbal communication in synchronous collaborative CAD activities. Using a verbal protocol analysis of teams solving an embodiment design task, the results show that ChatGPT-supported teams communicated less, devoted less verbal communication to problem- and analysis-related communication, and shifted toward process and solution synthesis, indicating a shortened design co-evolution cycle in which teams move more quickly toward generating solutions. Future work should integrate these findings with broader teamwork and taskwork analyses.