<p>The blank-canvas magic is over—now the real work begins. In the second half of our deep dive, Phoebe walks Maikel through the <em>refinement</em> and <em>optimization</em> phases that turn rough concept art into AI personas customers actually love.</p><p><strong>What we cover</strong></p><li><p><strong>- Qual → Quant → Optimize</strong> – Why early <strong>qualitative interviews</strong> reveal the “why,” how <strong>quant perception tests</strong> deliver the “how much,” and where each feeds the final polish.</p></li><li><p><strong> -Role of the character polisher</strong> – Translating user insights into concrete tweaks—from softening a voice that reads “arrogant” to simplifying visuals so the core trait shines.</p></li><li><p><strong>- Research, not guesswork</strong> – Mixing secondary literature with first-hand studies, and the quick litmus tests Phoebe uses to decide which external findings really apply.</p></li><li><p><strong>- Listening as a design skill</strong> – Practical tips to fight confirmation bias, use silence, and read non-verbal cues so interviews surface hidden gold.</p></li><li><p><strong>- Writing better research questions</strong> – How a tight, actionable question (e.g., “How do BMW-driving 40-somethings judge their in-car assistant’s <em>trustworthiness</em>?”) beats vague goals every time.</p></li><li><p><strong>- Balancing art &amp; commerce</strong> – Navigating clashes when a stakeholder’s beloved concept jars with user perception—and deciding when to push, pivot, or let data lead.</p></li><li><p><strong>- Next stop: optimization</strong> – Getting refined candidates ready for large-scale quant tests, where correlations guide the final round of adjustments before launch.</p><p><br></p></li><p>If Episode 3 showed you where AI characters <em>start</em>, Episode 4 shows you how they survive the gauntlet of real-world feedback to emerge as on-brand, user-approved ambassadors.</p>