When to Use AI Interview vs AI Research?
Question Type
User Manual Question
Quick Comparison
| Dimension | AI Interview | AI Research |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | In-depth user interviews | Comprehensive analysis and research |
| Participants | 5-10 AI personas | Multiple data sources (personas + social media + web) |
| Output | Interview records + insights | Research report + strategic recommendations |
| Duration | 50-70 minutes | 2-4 hours |
| Use For | Explore "why" | Market analysis, trend research |
AI Interview (In-Depth Interviews)
When to Use?
✅ Exploratory Research
- Why do users choose/abandon a product?
- What are users' real pain points?
- Deep motivations behind decisions?
✅ Product Testing
- New product concept testing
- Feature priority ranking
- Pricing strategy testing
✅ User Insights
- Differences across user segments
- Specific needs of niche markets
- Behavioral pattern identification
Core Capabilities
Deep Follow-Up:
- "5 Whys" technique, layer by layer
- Unlimited "why" questioning
- Uncover deep motivations
Parallel Efficiency:
- Interview 5-10 people simultaneously
- Individual records for each
- Complete in 3-4 hours
Output Content:
- 3000+ word interview summary per person
- Highlight dialogue snippets
- Key findings and user profiles
AI Research (Comprehensive Research)
When to Use?
✅ Market Analysis
- Industry trend analysis
- Competitive comparison research
- Market opportunity exploration
✅ Strategic Planning
- New market entry evaluation
- Brand repositioning
- Product line planning
✅ Comprehensive Insights
- Multi-dimensional data integration
- Macro trends + micro users
- Strategic-level decision support
Core Capabilities
Multi-Source Data Integration:
- AI persona interviews
- Social media observation (Scout)
- Public web data
- Industry report analysis
In-Depth Analysis:
- Market size and growth trends
- Competitive landscape and opportunities
- User needs and pain points
- Product positioning and strategic recommendations
Output Content:
- Research report (20-30 pages)
- Strategic recommendations
- Actionable plans
Decision Tree: 3 Steps to Choose the Right Tool
Step 1: What Do You Want to Understand?
User Level (individual motivations and behavior) → AI Interview Market Level (trends, competitors, opportunities) → AI Research
Step 2: What Depth Do You Need?
In-Depth Interviews (dig into "why") → AI Interview Comprehensive Analysis (market + users + trends) → AI Research
Step 3: Time and Scope?
Quick Focus (3-4 hours, 5-10 people) → AI Interview Comprehensive Analysis (2-4 hours, multiple data sources) → AI Research
Real Scenario Comparisons
Scenario 1: New Product Launch
Need: A coffee brand plans to launch sparkling coffee
Using AI Interview
Questions:
- Users' first impression of sparkling coffee?
- In what scenarios would they purchase?
- Price acceptance level?
Output:
- In-depth interviews with 5-10 users
- Discovered "unwilling to take risks in afternoon energy scenarios"
- Recommend repositioning to morning exploration scenarios
Advantages:
- ✅ Quickly validate product concept
- ✅ Deeply understand user psychology
- ✅ Can immediately optimize product
Using AI Research
Questions:
- Sparkling coffee market size and growth trends?
- Main competitors?
- Target audience profile and needs?
Output:
- Market analysis report
- Competitive comparison and differentiation strategy
- Target audience and marketing recommendations
Advantages:
- ✅ Comprehensive understanding of market environment
- ✅ Strategic-level decision support
- ✅ Includes market + users + competitors
Comparison Summary
| Dimension | AI Interview | AI Research |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | User psychology and behavior | Market environment and strategy |
| Depth | ★★★★★ (individual) | ★★★★☆ (comprehensive) |
| Breadth | ★★★☆☆ (5-10 people) | ★★★★★ (multiple data sources) |
| Duration | 50-70 minutes | 2-4 hours |
| Use For | Product testing, user insights | Market analysis, strategic planning |
Recommendations:
- Before product launch: First use AI Research to understand market, then AI Interview to validate product
- Feature optimization: Directly use AI Interview to deeply explore user needs
Scenario 2: Entering New Market
Need: A fitness app plans to enter the senior fitness market
Using AI Interview
Questions:
- Senior users' attitudes and needs regarding fitness?
- What are the barriers to using the app?
- Which features would they pay for?
Output:
- In-depth interviews with 5-10 senior users
- Discovered "worried about complex operations" and "don't know how to start"
- Recommend adding "beginner guidance" and "simplified interface"
Use For:
- ✅ Understand specific needs of new market users
- ✅ Discover product adaptation barriers
- ✅ Quickly validate feature hypotheses
Using AI Research
Questions:
- Senior fitness market size and growth potential?
- Main competitors and market gaps?
- Senior users' health needs and purchasing power?
Output:
- Market analysis report
- Competitive landscape and opportunity points
- Entry strategy and risk assessment
Use For:
- ✅ Assess market opportunities and risks
- ✅ Develop entry strategy
- ✅ Predict market reactions
Comparison Summary
AI Interview: Answers "What do senior users specifically need?" AI Research: Answers "Is the senior fitness market worth entering?"
Best Practice:
- First use AI Research to assess market opportunities
- After deciding to enter, use AI Interview to deeply understand user needs
- Design product based on Interview insights
Combined Usage Strategies
Strategy 1: Research → Interview
Use For: Entering new market, launching new category
Process:
-
AI Research (2-4 hours):
- Analyze market size and trends
- Identify competitors and opportunities
- Determine target user groups
-
AI Interview (50-70 minutes):
- In-depth interviews with target users
- Validate Research findings
- Optimize product design
Advantages:
- Macro first, then micro
- Avoid blindly entering market
- More precise product design
Strategy 2: Interview → Research
Use For: Product optimization, user insights
Process:
-
AI Interview (50-70 minutes):
- Discover user pain points
- Understand deep needs
-
AI Research (2-4 hours):
- Analyze market trends
- Validate universality of needs
- Develop strategic direction
Advantages:
- Start from users
- Deepen understanding then expand
- Avoid directional errors
Common Questions
Q1: Can both be used simultaneously?
Yes. Recommended strategy:
- First use AI Research to understand market
- Then use AI Interview to deeply explore users
- Or vice versa
Q2: Limited budget, can only choose one?
Depends on your core question:
- If mainly focused on user psychology and needs → AI Interview
- If mainly focused on market opportunities and strategy → AI Research
Examples:
- Product feature optimization → AI Interview
- New market entry evaluation → AI Research
Q3: Does AI Research include AI Interview?
Partially included. AI Research will:
- Reference some AI persona interview content
- But not complete in-depth interviews
- If deep exploration needed, recommend using AI Interview separately
Q4: Which is more suitable for startups?
Depends on stage:
- Product validation stage: AI Interview (quickly validate hypotheses)
- Market exploration stage: AI Research (assess opportunities)
Budget Considerations:
- AI Interview lower cost (¥50-100)
- AI Research more comprehensive but slightly higher cost (¥200-300)
Final Takeaway
"AI Interview digs into user depth, AI Research analyzes market breadth. Choose Interview for user insights, Research for strategic decisions."
Remember:
- ✅ AI Interview: Explore "why", in-depth interviews
- ✅ AI Research: Analyze "what", comprehensive research
- ✅ Best practice: Research macro + Interview micro
Related Feature: Interview vs Discussion, AI Research Document Version: v2.1