AI as creative partner: exploring perceived roles in human-AI co-creation

Generative AI (GenAI) tools are getting more and more integrated into creative workflows, evolving from assistants to collaborators, and reshaping human-AI interactions in the creative process. To better understand the human side of this co-creation, an interview study was conducted with 19 architecture students participating in a GenAI-supported design futuring course. The study identified 18 roles humans and AI can take during co-creation, along with tool-specific variations and insights into emotional dynamics, creative experiences, perceived agency, and control during the design process.