The AI UX Gap: Why Most Designers Are Missing the Real Challenge
Denys Tkachenko
AI/UX Design for AI and SaaS Products || Looking for beta testers for TSP - community-driven research and collaboration platform || Zero UI evangelist
After watching the top 15 most popular YouTube videos about AI and UX design, I noticed a striking pattern: most of these videos—many with hundreds of thousands or even millions of views—focused on how designers can use AI tools rather than how to design AI features that people will actually use. The emphasis is overwhelmingly on:
- Generating images
- Automating tasks
- Using AI-powered tools from major providers
Dudes, you’re missing the point! The far more critical conversation—how to create AI experiences that are intuitive, useful, and user-friendly—is buried in a handful of low-view videos.
The Real AI UX Challenge
Designers need to do more than just automate their workflows with AI (which is great, but not the endgame). We have to learn how to design for AI—a challenge that’s growing at an unstoppable pace. The way AI works is fundamentally different from traditional software:
- Users often have no prior experience interacting with AI-driven features.
- AI-generated data can be unpredictable, making it tricky to design for clarity.
- AI interactions require new mental models that users aren’t familiar with yet.
And yet, most AI-powered tools today suffer from three major UX problems:
1. Features No One Wants or Needs
Many AI products are built with a “because we can†mindset rather than a user-first approach. Designers slap on AI features, developers build them (burning through huge budgets), but nobody stops to ask: Does anyone actually need this? The result? AI tools bloated with features that don’t solve real problems, leaving users confused or just ignoring them.
2. Onboarding That Fails to Explain the Potential
Most AI-powered products have a steep learning curve, but their onboarding experiences don’t do much to help users understand why the AI feature exists, what it does, or how to use it effectively. If people can’t grasp the value of an AI feature within seconds, they’ll just move on.
3. Unclear AI Outputs That Send Users Back to Old Interfaces
Even when users try to engage with AI-powered tools, the outputs are often vague, messy, or just not immediately useful. So what do they do? They go back to the old, manual way of doing things. The irony? Instead of saving time, AI ends up increasing the time users spend on interfaces, making them edit, interpret, or fix AI-generated content.
Breaking the Cycle: Designing AI for Zero-UI Interaction
AI should do the opposite—it should reduce interaction time with interfaces. As designers, our mission should be to build AI-driven products that help people get things done faster, with less effort, and ideally, without even touching a screen.
The future of AI UX isn’t about adding more AI buttons to apps. It’s about designing experiences that make AI feel seamless, invisible, and intuitive. The best AI is the kind that works in the background, anticipating user needs and making things happen without extra clicks.
A Question to Action
The future of AI UX isn’t about making users more dependent on software—it’s about making software so effortless that users barely notice it at all.
This is the core of Zero UI—an approach to AI-driven design that minimizes interface friction and maximizes usability. If we get this right, AI won’t just be another tool—it will be an invisible force that enhances our lives without demanding our attention.
Are you ready to design AI for real human needs?
Videos from the research:
The future of design with AI? - 12k views
The video discusses how AI will transform design and creativity, emphasizing that it will not replace humans but enhance their capabilities.
- AI will change every aspect of design.
- New tools will automate many tasks.
- Creativity can be enhanced, not replaced.
- Understanding human needs is still vital.
- Embrace AI as a tool for innovation.
AI is a new digital species that can enhance human life and creativity.
- AI can solve complex problems.
- It will act as digital companions.
- AI can improve education and healthcare.
- Understanding AI is crucial for safety.
- We shape AI's future through our choices.
AI and the future of design: Designing with AI - Noah L, Jordan S, Andrew P, Vincent van der Meulen - 75k views
AI will change design by enhancing collaboration and simplifying tasks, not replacing designers.
- AI helps designers solve problems.
- Design evolves with new technology.
- Collaboration will increase among teams.
- AI can automate repetitive tasks.
- Figma aims to integrate AI into design tools.
UX/UI In The AI Era - Simplest Design Process! - 76k views
AI has transformed the design process, making it simpler and more efficient with just two steps.
- New workflow replaces traditional design steps.
- AI tools streamline design and development.
- Create functional prototypes faster than before.
- Use AI for user flow and wireframe generation.
- Save time and enhance creativity with AI.
Web Design is over. We lost. - 30k views (for only 1 day!!!)
Web design has declined due to lowered standards and reliance on AI, but there is still hope for skilled designers.
- AI does not create good design.
- Many designers are becoming lazy.
- Start with clear copy before visuals.
- Practice and learn design skills.
- Avoid shortcuts and use AI as a tool.
Adrian Zumbrunnen shares his journey as a designer, focusing on AI and user experience.
- Discusses early projects and design evolution.
- Emphasizes context in user interface design.
- Introduces "Mindful," a simple note-taking tool.
- Explores AI's role in enhancing user interaction.
- Highlights the importance of designing for real-world use.
Config 2024: Building an AI design system at scale (Phillip Maggs, Creative Director, Superside) - 9,2 k views
Building an AI design system can enhance creativity and efficiency in design processes.
- Use design systems as knowledge bases for AI.
- Integrate brand data with design data for better results.
- Knowledge graphs improve data retrieval and understanding.
- AI can streamline design workflows and reduce time.
- Maintain control and agency over your design processes.
AI is transforming UX design by enhancing user experiences and personalizing interactions.
- AI improves user experience in products.
- Designers must adapt to changing user expectations.
- Hyper-personalization enhances service recommendations.
- Prompt engineering is key for effective AI use.
- Designers' roles evolve but remain essential.
I Used AI To Build This $900K/mo App In A Day - 535k views
You can build a $900K/month app in a day using AI tools and no coding skills.
- Create a plant identifier app with AI.
- Use Cloud AI for coding assistance.
- Upload images to identify plants quickly.
- Add features like camera access and navigation.
- Monetize your app with basic coding knowledge.
?Using Generative AI in UI/UX Design - 25k views
Generative AI can greatly enhance UI/UX design workflows by creating unique assets quickly.
- Use Mid Journey for AI-generated images.
- Create vector assets with Adobe Firefly.
- Modify designs easily in Photoshop and Figma.
- Generate backgrounds and graphics with prompts.
- AI tools save time and reduce costs in design.
How To Design For Artificial Intelligence — UX Design Skills to Stand Out from a Google UX Designer - only 5k views
The video discusses essential UX design skills for 2024 in an AI-driven world.
- Understand responsible AI design practices.
- Empathy is key for user-centered design.
- Learn how AI models work for better design.
- Context matters for user interactions with AI.
- Adaptability is crucial for future UX designers.
?UX for AI: How to Power Human Experiences with AI - Design Tool Tuesday - only 10k views
Understanding how to design AI tools can enhance human experiences.
- Framework guides AI development stages.
- Most products are still in manual stages.
- Assistive AI helps humans make better decisions.
- Full automation is years away from reality.
- UX design must focus on human-centered models.
?UX/UI In The AI Era - Simplest Design Process!- 76k views
AI has transformed the design process, making it simpler and more efficient with just two steps.
- New workflow replaces traditional design steps.
- AI tools streamline design and development.
- Create functional prototypes faster than before.
- Use AI for user flow and wireframe generation.
- Save time and enhance creativity with AI.
How to Design UX for AI Products. UI Design Best Practices for AI Services: Scoping - ONLY 2k views, Friedman's top video?
Scoping is key to designing effective AI user experiences.
- Scoping helps users get relevant responses.
- AI can suggest specific categories or filters.
- Good examples include LKAI and Perplexity.
- Auto-generated summaries improve user interaction.
- Templates can guide users in refining queries.
UX/UI Design Trends 2025 - finally, no-one-need predictions, 63k views
As we enter 2025, UX/UI design trends focus on natural interactions and inclusivity.
- Natural interactions use voice and gesture controls.
- 3D design enhances user engagement and visuals.
- Sustainability drives efficient and eco-friendly designs.
- Emotional design connects with users on a personal level.
- Mobile-first design prioritizes seamless mobile experiences.