Work

Investigating LLM-Powered Dissenting Minority Support in Power-Imbalanced Group Decision-Making: Counterargument and Mediation as Intervention Strategies

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Minority viewpoints are often suppressed in power-imbalanced group decision-making due to social pressure to comply with the majority. To address this problem, we developed an LLM-powered dissenting minority support system that aimed to foster attention to minority views through either AI-generated counterarguments or AI-mediated messages. We conducted a mixed-method experiment with 96 participants in 24 groups, comparing minority members’ experiences across baseline, AI-counterargument, and AI-mediated message conditions. Our findings revealed a nuanced trade-off: AI-generated counterarguments fostered a more flexible atmosphere and enhanced satisfaction, while AI-mediated messaging increased minority participation but unexpectedly reduced their psychological safety. This research contributes empirical evidence on how different AI implementations affect group dynamics, identifies a critical support paradox between participation and psychological safety, provides design implications for future systems, and highlights ethical challenges in implementing AI-mediated communication in hierarchical settings. These insights advance understanding of designing more equitable AI support for power-imbalanced group decision-making.

Source: Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

DOI: 10.1145/3816954

Authors: Soohwan Lee, Seoyeong Hwang, Mingyu Kim, Dajung Kim, Kyungho Lee

Institution: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology