AI as research partner: key implications of using AI for data visualisation in qualitative research

Artificial intelligence (AI) can partner in a research process in multiple ways, including data visualisation in qualitative research. It can empower the researchers to (re)present data in more effective and artistically appealing manners. In this paper, we recount our interactive experiment of employing an AI-powered tool to generate a picture of a small segment of qualitative data. We then discuss three key implications from our engagement with AI: research ethical considerations, new forms of human and non-human research partnership, and importantly, roles and agency of researchers and AI in this partnership.