Column: Conscious Experience Design

As UX designers, along with the rest of the world today, we’re hyperaware of the impact and momentum of generative artificial intelligence (AI)—so much so that we’re now wondering whether people might be focusing so much on a few trees that they’re forgetting to consider the forest. Allow me to explain. While AI is undeniably a sea change in computing, it ultimately represents a much broader revolution in which technology is becoming more human centric and human conscious. Essentially, technology is now learning to adapt to people, as opposed to people needing to learn and adapt to new technologies.

As part of this shift, technology is expanding not only its cognitive abilities but also its sensory, social, and ethical capabilities. Within the expansion of technology’s sensory abilities, we’re seeing advancements and growth in spatial computing. Spatial context and movement within three-dimensional spaces are core human-sensory abilities, and thus, likely new growth areas in humanizing machine interactions. Spatial computing has emerged as one of the most compelling paradigms that are melding with AI—so compelling that we can consider it the third wave of interactions in personal computing. Read More

As we enter 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) is part of virtually every product-design conversation. Companies are racing to incorporate AI into their products, hoping to push the limits of innovation to attract and engage customers and impact the business’s bottom line. As UX designers, our charter is always to create seamless relationships between users and digital products. AI represents a whole new field of possible experiences.

Now, with AI ubiquitously underpinning so many new products, I believe the biggest challenge of 2024 will be thoughtfully placing AI at the forefront of innovation by understanding users’ perspectives, needs, concerns, and objectives. AI can and will do many amazing things. The big question is: what should it do?

In this column, I’ll share some of my reflections regarding the adoption of AI by users, focusing particularly on what we’ve learned about their expectations and attitudes. Read More

The breathtaking evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming innovation and shaping human behavior. Now, more than ever, the concept of conscious AI experiences is becoming a reality. The race to innovate and evolve products, businesses, and our digital lives is more urgent than ever—and more essential for our future success. UX designers must lead the way in guiding the evolution of next-gen product experiences to create more conscious AI experiences.

A Big-Bang Era of Change

Technology is at a poignant juncture—in the midst of a collision of contrasting forces that have sent shock waves through industries and economies worldwide. At one end of the spectrum, the technology industry has witnessed a downturn that has been characterized by widespread layoffs and financial contractions, echoing the turbulence of the business world. Simultaneously, we’ve set the stage for an unprecedented boom: the AI revolution, which represents a unique moment in the history of technology. Artificial intelligence has emerged as a force for change, transforming the very fabric of our digital existence. Read More