Characterizing Unintended Consequences in Human-GUI Agent Collaboration for Web Browsing

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhang, Shuning, Chen, Jingruo, Gao, Zhiqi, Gao, Jiajing, Yi, Xin, Li, Hewu
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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_version_ 1866912378812104704
author Zhang, Shuning
Chen, Jingruo
Gao, Zhiqi
Gao, Jiajing
Yi, Xin
Li, Hewu
author_facet Zhang, Shuning
Chen, Jingruo
Gao, Zhiqi
Gao, Jiajing
Yi, Xin
Li, Hewu
contents The proliferation of Large Language Model (LLM)-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) agents in web browsing scenarios present complex unintended consequences (UCs). This paper characterizes three UCs from three perspectives: phenomena, influence and mitigation, drawing on social media analysis (N=221 posts) and semi-structured interviews (N=14). Key phenomenon for UCs include agents' deficiencies in comprehending instructions and planning tasks, challenges in executing accurate GUI interactions and adapting to dynamic interfaces, the generation of unreliable or misaligned outputs, and shortcomings in error handling and feedback processing. These phenomena manifest as influences from unanticipated actions and user frustration, to privacy violations and security vulnerabilities, and further to eroded trust and wider ethical concerns. Our analysis also identifies user-initiated mitigation, such as technical adjustments and manual oversight, and provides implications for designing future LLM-based GUI agents that are robust, user-centric, and transparent, fostering a crucial balance between automation and human oversight.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2505_09875
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Characterizing Unintended Consequences in Human-GUI Agent Collaboration for Web Browsing
Zhang, Shuning
Chen, Jingruo
Gao, Zhiqi
Gao, Jiajing
Yi, Xin
Li, Hewu
Human-Computer Interaction
The proliferation of Large Language Model (LLM)-based Graphical User Interface (GUI) agents in web browsing scenarios present complex unintended consequences (UCs). This paper characterizes three UCs from three perspectives: phenomena, influence and mitigation, drawing on social media analysis (N=221 posts) and semi-structured interviews (N=14). Key phenomenon for UCs include agents' deficiencies in comprehending instructions and planning tasks, challenges in executing accurate GUI interactions and adapting to dynamic interfaces, the generation of unreliable or misaligned outputs, and shortcomings in error handling and feedback processing. These phenomena manifest as influences from unanticipated actions and user frustration, to privacy violations and security vulnerabilities, and further to eroded trust and wider ethical concerns. Our analysis also identifies user-initiated mitigation, such as technical adjustments and manual oversight, and provides implications for designing future LLM-based GUI agents that are robust, user-centric, and transparent, fostering a crucial balance between automation and human oversight.
title Characterizing Unintended Consequences in Human-GUI Agent Collaboration for Web Browsing
topic Human-Computer Interaction
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2505.09875