What are the best practices for involving users and stakeholders in AI product development?

1 Acceptance criteria for AI products

Acceptance criteria are the conditions that a product must meet to be accepted by the users and stakeholders, helping to align the expectations and goals of the product team, the users, and the stakeholders. For AI products, acceptance criteria should not only focus on the functional and non-functional requirements, but also on the ethical, social, and legal implications of the AI solution. Examples of such criteria include accuracy, reliability, and explainability of the AI solution, respect for the privacy and security of the users and their data, compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and avoidance of bias, discrimination, and harm to the users and society.

2 How to involve users in AI product development

Users are the ultimate beneficiaries of the AI product, as they are the ones who will use it, provide feedback, and generate value. Consequently, it is essential to involve them in the AI product development process, from ideation to evaluation. To do this, user research should be conducted to understand user needs, pain points, and expectations. Additionally, user personas, scenarios, and journeys should be co-created to represent the user segments and contexts. Furthermore, the problem-solution fit and the product-market fit should be validated with user interviews, surveys, and experiments. The AI product should also be prototyped and tested with real users, and qualitative and quantitative data should be collected. Finally, the AI product should be iterated and improved based on the user feedback and behavior.

3 How to involve stakeholders in AI product development

Stakeholders are people who have an interest or influence in the AI product, such as managers, investors, partners, regulators, or experts. Involving stakeholders in AI product development is essential for success. To do this, you should identify and prioritize the key stakeholders and their roles, expectations, and concerns. Communicate the vision, value proposition, and roadmap of the AI product to the stakeholders, and solicit and incorporate their feedback and requirements into the product backlog and acceptance criteria. Demonstrate and showcase the AI product to the stakeholders and collect their feedback and approval. Additionally, it is important to manage the stakeholder expectations and relationships throughout the product lifecycle.

4 Challenges and benefits of involving users and stakeholders in AI product development

Involving users and stakeholders in AI product development can be difficult, such as finding the right people and balancing their needs. Additionally, educating and informing them about the AI capabilities and limitations, as well as dealing with the uncertainty and complexity of the AI product development and delivery, can be challenging. However, the benefits of involving users and stakeholders in AI product development are worth it. These include building trust and confidence in the AI product and the product team, creating a user-centric and stakeholder-aligned AI product, reducing the risks and costs of developing and launching an AI product, and enhancing the innovation and quality of the AI product and the product team.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?