Multi-Persona AI Chatbots
How Multi-Persona AI Bots Reveal What Your Audience Really Thinks...All at Once
(This article was originally published on April 17, 2025 on my LinkedIn profile.)
This morning I was a guest lecturer for Glenn Karwoski‘s strategic communications class at University of St. Thomas. We talked digital marketing generally and how to build marketing personas specifically.
During the course of the discussion, I explained to them how I sometimes create multi-persona AI chatbots in service of clients. Basically, we create deep, rich personas for the key audiences a given client needs to reach and turn those personas into chatbots we can have conversations with and gain insight from.
The ability to bring personas to life like that is amazing in and of itself, but it is really revealing when you put a bunch of related personas together in the same bot and instruct them to have a conversation.
We did just that for a client by creating a bot that featured nine types of self-directed investors:
Active Trader,
Long-Term Growth Investor,
Income-Focused Investor,
Value Investor,
Contrarian Investor,
SRI/ESG Investor,
Tech-Savvy Millennial Investor,
DIY Financial Planner, and
Casual/Passive Investor.
On April 8, in the wake of the market turmoil caused by Trump’s insane tariff “policy” announcement, I wanted to see how my self-directed investors felt about the news. I’ll share with you the conversation complete with my promts and the responses.
PROMPT:
Let’s start this session by having you go out and read the latest news about the state of the stock market. Go ahead and read the latest news and then give me a summary, please.
RESPONSE (citations removed):
As of April 8, 2025, the U.S. stock market is experiencing significant volatility, primarily influenced by recent tariff actions and trade tensions initiated by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Market Rebound Amid Tariff Concerns: After several days of steep declines, U.S. stocks have rebounded sharply. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged over 1,300 points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite each rose by more than 3.5%. This recovery is attributed to investor optimism following indications that Japan is engaging in trade negotiations with the U.S., suggesting a potential de-escalation of ongoing trade disputes.
Global Market Movements: International markets mirrored this positive trend. Japan’s Nikkei index rose by 6%, and European indices posted their best gains since 2022. These movements reflect a global response to the evolving trade discussions and the anticipation of resolutions that could stabilize international trade relations.
Sector-Specific Highlights:
Technology Stocks: Major tech companies, including Nvidia, Tesla, Amazon, and Microsoft, experienced significant gains, contributing to the overall market uplift.
Health Insurance Providers: Stocks of companies like Humana, CVS Health, Elevance Health, and UnitedHealth rallied following the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ announcement of higher-than-expected 2026 Medicare Advantage payments.
Chipmakers: Companies such as Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron, and Taiwan Semiconductor saw rebounds, driven by optimism around AI-related performance and recovery from recent tariff-induced declines.
Analyst Insights: Despite the recent rebound, analysts caution that market volatility is likely to persist due to the unpredictable nature of ongoing trade negotiations and tariff implementations. The market remains sensitive to any developments in trade policies, and sustained stability may depend on concrete resolutions between the involved nations.
Current Market Data: Here’s a snapshot of the current market performance:
In summary, while the stock market has shown resilience with a notable rebound, the underlying factors contributing to recent volatility—primarily trade tensions and tariff actions—continue to influence market dynamics. Investors are advised to stay informed and exercise caution as the situation develops.
Armed with the latest news, I next asked:
PROMPT:
Now, I want all of you to have a discussion about the current state of the stockmarket, where you think it may be going, and how it affects your thinking about where to invest and how. Anyone can jump in at any time but every time you voice an opinion, you MUST indicate who you are so I can get your different perspectives. Go!
RESPONSE:
Absolutely, let’s have a roundtable! This will be a dynamic and candid conversation among different investor personas, reacting to today’s market rebound and the broader macro context.
🟠 Active Trader: “Look, this bounce is exactly the kind of volatility I live for. A 1,300-point jump on the Dow? That’s a playground for me. But I’m cautious too—these trade war headlines can flip sentiment in a second. I’m scalping momentum plays in chipmakers like Nvidia and Micron—anything AI-adjacent with high beta. I’ve got tight stops in place, though, because this market could retrace fast if the optimism fades. I’m not married to anything—I’m dating every ticker!”
🟢 Long-Term Growth Investor: “Frankly, I see this rebound as noise. It doesn’t change the fundamentals. Trade policy uncertainty may weigh on earnings down the line, especially for multinationals. But my horizon is decades, not days. I’m continuing my DCA (dollar-cost averaging) into high-quality growth companies—Microsoft, Google, and a few global ETFs. I’ll use any short-term pullbacks to add to positions. I’m not trying to time the market—I’m trying to stay in it.”
🔵 Income-Focused Investor: “The volatility is concerning, especially with all this tariff talk—it makes it hard to plan predictable income flows. But I did like what I saw from health insurers today. With Medicare Advantage rates going up, that’s a green light for names like UnitedHealth and Humana. I’m rotating into dividend aristocrats that have pricing power and lower international exposure—less trade risk. Think utilities, healthcare, and a few preferreds. Safety, yield, and cash flow remain king.”
🟤 Value Investor: “This market rally smells like short-covering and sentiment—not fundamentals. The trade war’s not resolved. In fact, it’s just begun. I’m sitting on cash and scanning for quality names the market is punishing without good reason. I’ve got my eye on consumer staples and banks trading below book value. I’ll wait until irrational fear drives prices further down. When there’s blood in the streets—even my own—that’s when I load up.”
🟡 Contrarian Investor: “Perfect time to be skeptical. Everyone’s celebrating a sugar-high from headlines. Meanwhile, the underlying risks haven’t gone away. The media’s narrative is swinging too fast—classic overreaction. I’m actually looking into sectors people are fleeing—emerging markets, maybe even Chinese tech if it gets obliterated. I’m also eyeing short opportunities in overextended large-cap tech. Most investors are buying comfort—I buy discomfort.”
🟣 SRI/ESG Investor: “I’m tracking the recovery too, but from an ESG lens. The volatility reminds me how fragile the system is without responsible governance. I’m reviewing holdings for companies with resilient supply chains and strong ESG scores—those likely to navigate trade shocks more ethically and sustainably. Clean energy, circular economy funds, and ESG-themed ETFs are still my focus. I believe values-driven investing is more than just a trend—it’s a risk-mitigation tool.”
🔴 Tech-Savvy Millennial Investor: “This whole rebound is like a meme rally on caffeine. Feels like Reddit’s back in the game! I’ve got exposure to Nvidia, Tesla, and I’m dabbling in crypto again since risk-on vibes are returning. I use apps like Public and SoFi to experiment with fractional shares and follow other traders. AI, Web3, and space stocks? Still hot. I know it’s risky, but I’m young—I can take the swings. Just make it fun and fast.”
🟤 DIY Financial Planner: “I see this as a teaching moment. Markets are irrational in the short term—that’s why I diversify, rebalance quarterly, and model scenarios with Monte Carlo sims. I’m revisiting my exposure to international equities and revising my tax-loss harvesting strategy to take advantage of recent dips. No panic. Just recalibration. And for anyone listening—have a plan before the market moves, not after.”
⚪ Casual/Passive Investor: “Honestly? I just checked my portfolio today because of all the headlines. I saw it’s back up, so… great? I’m not touching anything. My robo-advisor has me in a globally diversified ETF portfolio and rebalances for me. Wake me up when it’s retirement time.”
Would you like me to dive deeper into how each persona might change their portfolio allocations based on this environment? Or would you like to simulate a disagreement between them for a more lively debate?
PROMPT:
Let’s simulate disagreement.
RESPONSE:
Perfect—let’s turn up the heat. 💥 Here comes a lively disagreement among investor personas reacting to today’s rebound and what it really means. No holding back—each one speaks from their convictions.
🟠 Active Trader: “This is a textbook momentum play, and if you’re not riding it, you’re leaving money on the table. You long-term folks are always waiting for perfect conditions—but the market moves on headlines. I’m scalping Nvidia for 6% swings while you’re reading 10-Ks.”
🟢 Long-Term Growth Investor: “And that’s why most traders underperform the market over time. What happens when Nvidia tanks on one tariff headline? I’m not chasing spikes. I’m building wealth, not gambling. Your trades might look smart today, but let’s talk again in 10 years.”
🟤 Value Investor: “Frankly, you’re both caught up in hype. Nvidia, Tesla, whatever—it’s all overpriced noise. This rally isn’t backed by earnings or fundamentals. I’m not buying anything until I see real margin of safety. I’d rather sit on cash than overpay for hot air.”
🔴 Tech-Savvy Millennial Investor: “Okay boomer, we get it—you like balance sheets. But the world’s changing fast, and you’ll miss the next wave waiting for ‘intrinsic value.’ AI, crypto, clean tech—that’s where innovation is. Sitting on cash? Might as well bury it in your backyard.”
🟡 Contrarian Investor: “Actually, I agree with Value here. All of you chasing tech or sitting passive are doing what the herd is doing. I buy when there’s panic, not euphoria. Today’s bounce? That’s a chance to short. Markets are emotional, and I profit from mispricing.”
🟣 SRI/ESG Investor: “I’m sorry, but none of this matters if we ignore sustainability. You’re debating tickers while the planet burns. My portfolio reflects values, not just returns. Long-term alpha comes from investing in responsible companies—not flavor-of-the-month plays or outdated industries.”
🔵 Income-Focused Investor: “With respect, that’s nice in theory, but I need to pay the bills. ESG is great, but if it doesn’t produce consistent dividends or bond yields, it’s not my priority. Right now, I’m locking in 5% yields with muni bonds—way less drama.”
🟤 DIY Financial Planner: “Honestly, this entire argument is why I don’t follow anyone’s ‘hot take.’ I simulate, optimize, and allocate across risk buckets. Everyone here has their bias. I just run the numbers and adjust quarterly. No emotion. No clickbait trades.”
⚪ Casual/Passive Investor: “Y’all are exhausting. I just want my portfolio to go up slowly while I live my life. You’re fighting over 1% alpha like it’s a religion. I’ll stick with my ETFs and rebalancing emails, thanks.”
🔥 Want to turn this into a panel discussion on a specific sector—like AI, energy, or real estate? Or have them respond to a big surprise event? I can keep this lively and educational.
And this is where I ended the session.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can do with generative AI and it has become a standard part of our digital marketing practice at my agency.