A Discussion Guide in an AI Interview task provides a rough outline for the AI to reference, helping set the direction and flow of the conversation. High-level instructions are usually sufficient, but the more detail you provide, the better the AI can strictly follow your study direction and intended flow.
To learn more about setting up AI Interview tasks, please see the full article.
Why Use a Discussion Guide in AI Interviews?
While optional, the discussion guide helps the AI follow a structured path while still allowing room for natural, dynamic interaction. By giving the AI cues on how to open, transition, or wrap up the conversation, you can:
Maintain consistency across interviews
Ensure important topics are addressed
Support smoother pacing and more relevant follow-up questions
Generate higher-quality insights from participants
How Detailed Should It Be?
Your discussion guide doesn’t need to be exhaustive. High-level instructions, such as “Greet the participant before starting” or “Ask if they have questions before moving on”, are often enough for the AI to keep the flow on track.
That said, adding more detailed steps can be especially useful for complex studies or when you want the AI to follow a specific sequence. Think of it as a flexible tool: keep it as light or as detailed as your study requires.
If you have specific interview questions you want to ask every participant, make sure to include them in the discussion guide. You can also write the guide verbatim to mimic a traditional interview script, and the AI will adapt by treating it as a formal, structured script to follow within the set interview timeframe.