Qual vs. Bot: A Study So Real, It’s Artificial

Thursday, November 13, 2025 @ 1:00 PM ET

The research world is buzzing about synthetic respondents, but the question remains: can AI-driven panels deliver the same nuance, insight, and emotional depth as real people? As synthetic panel technology matures, researchers are grappling with when – and if – it makes sense to replace human participation with machine-generated responses.

Join L&E Research as we unveil the results of a brand-new case study designed to put synthetic respondents to the test. In this session, we’ll compare real and AI-generated participants across several research tasks, revealing surprising insights about where synthetic data delivers, where it doesn’t, and what that means for the future of research. Along the way, we’ll highlight a few innovative platform features that made this experiment possible.

This isn’t just a theoretical discussion. We’ve built synthetic panels using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) models and compared them to real participants recruited via Condux’s self-serve capabilities. The result? A compelling, unbiased look at when synthetic works, when it fails, and how researchers can smartly deploy it.

Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or already testing AI in your research stack, this session will help you understand what’s hype – and what’s real.

During this webinar, we’ll explore:

What we tested: An overview of the research design, including how we structured parallel studies with synthetic and real respondents.
How responses differed: Key findings on where synthetic participants aligned with, or diverged from, human data.
Methodological implications: What our results suggest about the strengths and limitations of using AI-generated respondents in various research scenarios.
Workflow considerations: A look at how survey logic, branching, and object detection influenced participant experience and outcomes.
Practical takeaways: Where synthetic inputs can realistically support qualitative and quantitative goals, and where caution is still warranted.

Speakers

James Hubbard, Jr, VP of Product and Engineering, L&E Research

Since 2020, James Hubbard has spearheaded innovation at the intersection of product leadership and artificial intelligence, designing and deploying transformative AI-driven workflows across enterprise platforms. He’s been a thought leader and has directed strategic initiatives within Identity & Access Management and Global Supply Chain, introducing automation, machine learning, and UX enhancements used by thousands globally. Now VP of Product & Engineering at L&E Research, James drives development of generative AI and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) capabilities in the CondUX platform, leveraging model context protocol, natural language processing, and agentic AI to power next-generation market research. A long-time advocate for automation and AI integration, he mentors emerging engineers, coaches agile adoption, and champions inclusive product strategies rooted in data, ethics, and innovation.

Kelli Hammock, Director of Marketing, L&E Research

With nearly 20 years in qualitative research and marketing, Kelli Hammock drives L&E’s strategic marketing initiatives. She leads event planning, content creation, webinars, and brand communications with a focus on results. Her background as a project manager shapes her clear, effective communication style, while her photography training sharpens her creative review. Kelli recently led L&E’s rebrand and a study on participant motivation, turning insights into impactful content. She brings a holistic perspective to marketing and thrives on solving challenges with creativity and data.

Alex Escobar, Data Manager, L&E Research

With over 6 years of experience in market research, Alex Escobar specializes in designing and programming surveys that deliver actionable insights. His expertise spans the full research lifecycle – from crafting intuitive questionnaires to programming complex survey logic and reviewing data for accuracy and clarity. He has worked extensively with both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, ensuring that every project is grounded in solid data and user-friendly design. A key focus of his work is making the survey experience seamless and engaging for panelists.