Overview

<aside> 💡 The use of generative AI in design tools is making the process more efficient. Adobe’s Firefly application is perhaps a great example of genAI done right. But that’s the exception, not the rule. Most interfaces are kind of clunky, text heavy, chat botty, and boring. Sort of like the early days of the web before CSS and before all the web design standards came into place.

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<aside> 💡 Highly recommended this recent study from Valoir, on the state of AI and Ux and what really matters when considering AI applications. See, Valoir Study of AI and Ux.

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<aside> 💡 And, a recent study from Accenture called Human By Design, really puts the right set of questioins in place as one embards on designing the new AI-powered interfaces. As they say, we are moving from an age of ‘search’ to an age of ‘ask’.

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Examples of Poor Design

Despite the advancements, there are notable examples of poor design in generative AI applications:

• Overwhelming Features: Some generative AI products offer too many features, leading to user paralysis where users are unsure of what to do next. This is often due to a lack of clear guidance or intuitive design[5].
• Misleading Certainty: AI interfaces that present information with high certainty, despite the inherent uncertainty of AI outputs, can mislead users. This can result in users making decisions based on incorrect or incomplete information[7].
• Complexity and Usability Issues: Generative AI systems that fail to simplify the user experience or require extensive prompt engineering can alienate users who are not technically inclined[7].

Trends:

• Voice Interfaces, see Conversational AI Shaping The Future of UX, and Conversational AI
• Dynamic / Adaptive Interfaces: interfaces that adapt in real-time to user interactions and preferences.[2] See also, Defining Generative UI
• Accessibility, Exploring AI's Role in Accessibility and Inclusion

Citations: [1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/designing-digital-interfaces-generative-ai-2024-nick-cristea-ztdic [2] https://a16z.com/how-generative-ai-is-remaking-ui-ux-design/ [3] https://graphiccompetitions.com/multiple-disciplines/ai-design-award-2024-2025/ [4] https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/microsoft-at-chi-2024-innovations-in-human-centered-design/ [5] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/good-ai-bad-design-when-less-more-michael-todasco-8uj8c [6] https://lingarogroup.com/blog/the-limitations-of-generative-ai-according-to-generative-ai [7] https://www.ben-evans.com/benedictevans/2024/6/8/building-ai-products [8] https://trends.uxdesign.cc [9] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/06/26/2904635/0/en/Seventh-Annual-AI-Breakthrough-Awards-Program-Honors-Breakthrough-Artificial-Intelligence-Technologies-Around-the-World.html