UXSim: Towards a Hybrid User Search Simulation

Abstract: Simulating nuanced user experiences within complex interactive search systems poses distinct challenge for traditional methodologies, which often rely on static user proxies or, more recently, on standalone LLM agents that may lack deep, verifiable grounding. The true dynamism and personalization inherent in human-computer interaction demand a more integrated approach. This work introduces UXSim, a novel framework that integrates both approaches. It leverages grounded data from traditional simulators to inform and constrain the reasoning of an adaptive LLM agent. This synthesis enables more accurate and dynamic simulations of user behavior while also providing a pathway for the explainable validation of the underlying cognitive processes.