Exploring the Impact of AI Value Alignment in Collaborative Ideation: Effects on Perception, Ownership, and Output

AI-based virtual assistants are increasingly used to support daily ideation tasks. The values or bias present in these assistants can influence output in hidden ways and affect how people perceive the ideas produced with these AI assistants, leading to implications for the design of AI-based tools. We explored the effects of AI assistants with different values on the ideation process and user perception of idea quality, ownership, assistant competence, and values present in the output. Our study tasked 180 participants with brainstorming practical solutions to a set of problems with AI assistants of different values. Results show no significant difference in self-evaluation of idea quality and perception of the assistant based on value alignment; however, ideas generated reflected the AI's values and feeling of ownership is affected. This highlights an intricate interplay between AI values and human ideation, suggesting careful design considerations for future AI-supported brainstorming tools.