Surveys aren’t broken. They’re just too slow for most decisions.
Most companies still run research the same way they did in 2005: recruit a panel, wait two weeks, run the survey, analyze results, present a slide deck. But in 2025, when decisions happen in days (or hours) that’s often too late.

Synthetic respondents are built to mimic human behavior and decision-making. They’re fast, affordable, and surprisingly accurate. But are they always better? Let's see!

Here’s a breakdown of what you gain and what you lose when you switch from traditional surveys to AI panels.

💡 An AI panel is a synthetic sample of respondents trained on real-world data to simulate human decisions at scale, without needing fieldwork.

When to Use AI Panels (and When Not To)

Lakmoos AI panels don’t aim to replace traditional research, they fill the gaps where research normally doesn’t happen at all.

Here’s where AI panels make the most impact:

✅ You never had the budget, time, or access for human research
Perfect for early-stage ideas, niche personas, or internal pressure to “just decide.”

✅ You want to test something quickly—before the window closes
Run a simulation to get directional insight in minutes, not weeks.

✅ You’re under-researched, not over-researched
If nobody asked the question yet, AI panels help you ask it now—cheaply and safely.

✅ You need to explore multiple angles fast
Run five versions of the same test. Iterate. Refine. Learn what sticks.

✅ You’re scaling research across teams
Use AI panels to support content teams, junior PMs, or distributed units that don’t usually run studies.

TIP: Browse our case studies and learn how 50+ teams implemented Lakmoos AI panels in their workflows.

When Not to Use AI Panels

AI panels simulate behavioral logic, not emotional experience. Use with caution if:

⚠️ You need real-life stories, memories, or trauma-informed insights
⚠️ The content is highly emotional, cultural, or identity-specific
⚠️ You are testing experiential content like visuals, smells, or tactile design

Use human panels or interviews in these cases—or run both for richer perspective.

Some stakeholders still trust “real respondents” more than synthetic ones until they see benchmark comparisons. (Good that our Science page features benchmarks!)

So… When Should You Use AI Panels?

Here’s when AI panels outperform traditional methods:

• You missed a research window ("We forgot to ask!")

• You need a dry run before a big survey

• You want to test a wild idea before pitching it

• You need directional insight faster than your agency can book a call

• You’re stuck because “the audience is too niche”

And here’s when to stick with humans:

• You’re running an ethnographic deep-dive

• You need emotional stories for comms

• You’re testing content with strong cultural sensitivity

  
  

📊 Bonus: Try Both

One of the most powerful ways to get stakeholder buy-in is to run AI and human panels in parallel.
At Lakmoos, we help clients:

• Benchmark AI vs human responses

• Spot where synthetic insights align or don’t

• Build confidence by testing the testers

👉 Want to see how your last survey performs when rerun through an AI panel? We’ll do it. Just get in touch.