Designing Reliable Experiments with Generative Agent-Based Modeling: A Comprehensive Guide Using Concordia by Google DeepMind

In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping countless fields, the research community of social sciences needs to adapt to the changes posed by these technologies [1, 2]. In particular, data quality and authenticity play a significant role in social sciences [3], where the conclusions drawn rely heavily on data collected, for instance, from surveys. There are many traditional ways of gathering data, such as public datasets or private surveys, but AI has led to innovative approaches, like using agent-based models (ABMs). In recent years, the use of this paradigm has gained significant attention across a variety of fields, from economics and social sciences to artificial intelligence and computational biology [4, 5, 6]. ABMs allow researchers to simulate complex situations by modeling the behaviors and interactions of individual agents within a given environment [7]. These models provide a powerful way to understand emergent phenomena--such as market dynamics, social behaviors, or ecological systems--that arise from the independent actions and interactions of individual agents, each following its own set of rules. In spite of their flexibility, these models face some limitations, particularly when dealing with complex environments. One of the main challenges is that the agents' behaviors are programmed by the modeler based on assumptions or simplified rules. This rigid structure limits the ability to account for the full range of possible interactions that can emerge in real-world scenarios.