Revolutionizing AI: Proactive Assistance in Product Design - The Trenches Lesson

Join me, Arthur, as we rethink the role of AI in products, moving beyond chatbots and towards proactive solutions that augment user agency and streamline workflow.

  • 1. Arthur is a product designer at Evil Marty, focusing on AI tools.
  • 2. Many companies are adding chatbots to their products as an easy solution, but this may not be truly helpful.
  • 3. When working on Tigon, an AI issue tracker, Arthur decided to do the opposite of what others were doing, and it worked.
  • 4. The idea behind Tigon's AI is similar to Clippy, but with better execution and timing, providing proactive assistance without waiting to be asked.
  • 5. Tigon's AI uses "suggestion mode" to ask relevant questions in real-time based on the user's input.
  • 6. The AI also utilizes "action mode," which identifies complex issues and suggests better ways to organize work.
  • 7. Question plus action mode helps users manage issues more efficiently by asking the right questions at the right time.
  • 8. Users have control and can easily revert changes made by the AI if needed.
  • 9. The goal is to create better work without interrupting the user's flow.
  • 10. Proactive AI can be applied across various professional tools, aiding in tasks like identifying common pitfalls or suggesting accessible design.
  • 11. Communication tools could prepare context for meetings or locate mentioned documents.
  • 12. To incorporate proactive AI, look for friction points where users must stop to seek help.
  • 13. Identify patterns and clues for automation based on user behavior and common questions.
  • 14. Consider the context in which AI can be most helpful, such as addressing areas where users often get stuck.
  • 15. AI should supplement user agency, not replace it.
  • 16. AI should offer recommendations without forcing them on the user.
  • 17. Proactive AI should be part of the natural workflow, not interrupting or adding extra steps.
  • 18. Experimentation in AI interface design is encouraged, as best practices are still being formed.
  • 19. Designers should challenge the status quo and propose innovative UI solutions.
  • 20. Users remain in control when using proactive AI systems.
  • 21. Proactive AI can save time by addressing user needs without requiring explicit instructions.
  • 22. AI-driven tools like Tigon aim to create better work while respecting user control and flow.
  • 23. Applying proactive AI principles across various professional tools can improve productivity and user experience.
  • 24. Best practices for AI interface design are still being developed, so it's essential to experiment and innovate in this field.

Source: AI Engineer via YouTube

❓ What do you think? What are your thoughts on the ideas shared in this video? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!