The Evolving UX Landscape: Navigating AI, Shallow Practices, and the Future of User Experience

UX on the Chopping Block

The AI hype has led to a surge in tech investments, but UX job postings have plummeted to 70% of their 2021 levels.

Some UX teams are rebranding, but renaming won't solve the underlying challenges of undervaluation and unrealistic expectations.

What You Can Do:

• Be Flexible and Resourceful: Embrace change and explore new roles and titles.
• Empathize with Other Disciplines: Collaborate and communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Remember Your Mission: UX is about both user goals and business success.
• Recognize Your Limitations: Don't feel responsible for systemic issues beyond your control.

Post-Hype AI: Value and Agency

AI has become more pragmatic and useful, integrated into design and research tools.

AI agents are becoming more powerful, capable of executing actions with minimal human oversight.

What You Can Do:

• Adopt an Outcome-Oriented Mindset: Use AI to improve outcomes, but maintain control and verify output.
• Keep Delivering Value for Your Users: Focus on core principles of building usable and desirable products.
• Treat AI's Outputs as Drafts: Review and correct generated content, especially if stakes are high.
• Maintain a Balance: Stay informed about AI advancements, but prioritize essential knowledge and avoid overwhelm.

Shallow UX Will Suffer

Social media has fueled a culture of sharing resources without proper context or attribution.

Overreliance on tools and templates hinders critical thinking and undermines the value of UX professionals.

What You Can Do:

• Go Beyond Templates: Use frameworks as starting points, but tailor them to specific needs.
• Embrace Becoming the Unicorn: Develop a broad understanding across UX disciplines.
• Focus on Outcomes: Shift emphasis from tangible outputs to the impact of your work.
• Expand Your Understanding: Gain knowledge in adjacent fields to prepare for emerging roles.