- Anna Sophie Kümpel /
- Michael V. Reiss
The HIPUD model
An affordance-based framework for studying information use with gen-AI chatbots
Abstract #
Gen-AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude are rapidly becoming a central tool for everyday information use. We argue this shift is not merely technological but epistemic: rather than mediating access to pre-existing content, Gen-AI chatbots generate novel informational artifacts on demand. To systematize this transformation, we propose the HIPUD model, an affordance-based framework comprising five dimensions: Hyper-personalization (individualized outputs), (dialogic) Interactivity (real-time discursive exchange), Probabilistic generation (statistically synthesized rather than retrieved content), Universality (comprehensive reach across topics, languages, and modalities), and De-contextualization (information stripped of social and source-related cues). These affordances intersect and mutually reinforce one another, with broader implications for epistemic and informational practices. We illustrate the model through scenarios in political, health, and consumer communication, offering a conceptual vocabulary and analytical lens for future research on information use in Gen-AI environments.