Designing and Evaluating Generative AI Search Tools for Human Cognitive Augmentation

Generative AI (GenAI) systems are reshaping how people search for and use information. Unlike traditional search engines that return ranked lists, these systems generate synthesized answers and conversational explanations. While this shift enhances efficiency, it also impacts users’ cognition, potentially reducing the reflective, evaluative, and exploratory processes that support learning, understanding, and creativity. My research aims to conceptualize, design, and evaluate GenAI search systems that augment rather than replace human cognitive capabilities, with a focus on higher-order processes such as sensemaking, critical thinking, and creativity. The paper presents related work, synthesizes prior collaborative studies, introduces the proposed research framework, and outlines ongoing and planned empirical work toward this goal. The long-term vision is to develop a generalizable design and evaluation framework for GenAI search systems that systematically support cognitive augmentation.