A goal is more useful than a persona

We often begin designing an AI assistant by deciding how it should sound. I think the harder and more useful work is deciding what state it is trying to help the person reach.

A goal gives the system a direction and a way to notice whether progress is real. A persona can make the interaction pleasant, but it does not decide what to prioritize, what to remember, or when to challenge the user.

The deeper form of personalization may be understanding the person’s current state, intended future state, and the gap between them.

Personality can improve the relationship. The goal is what makes the relationship useful.