Engineers lead but designers must remain pioneers in the Gen-AI era

In today’s Gen-AI era, designers (seem to) have taken a back seat with engineers taking the lead on building next gen AI “experiences” that will redefine how users interact with our products. 

But it’s important to recognise that AI is merely a lever to deliver more value to users, and engineers still need our collaboration in figuring out which levers to pull to reinvent their UX for AI, not just tack it on as an afterthought.

As we navigate this new paradigm, it’s clear that the role of the designer will also undergo (significant) evolution. Instead of designing along linear pathways with predictable outcomes and standard patterns, we must understand these models deeply,  explore their boundless potential, and pioneer the rules for successful interactions..

Let’s face it: no one’s going to sit around waiting for designers to become valuable in the AI “arms race” we are in, resulting in a frenzied scramble for “proof of concepts” with questionable value.