The only winning move is not to play
8 days ago
- #human-centered-design
- #user-research
- #AI-ethics
- Human-centered research relies on subject matter experts to design studies that uncover relevant information from appropriate participants.
- Offloading research tasks to AI tools risks making user researchers redundant by removing their unique value and expertise.
- AI excels in pattern recognition and statistical modeling but produces average results, lacking the differentiation needed for innovation.
- Marketing AI tools as democratizing research undermines the role of expert researchers and prioritizes profit over quality.
- Ethics in research are crucial; undisclosed sponsorships and AI reliance can erode professional standards and trust.
- Rigorous research requires time and human interaction, which AI shortcuts cannot replace without losing context and depth.
- AI tools may increase research output but often result in lower-quality, less insightful findings.
- The push for AI in research mirrors past tech hype cycles (e.g., web3, crypto) and may not lead to meaningful progress.
- Researchers should advocate for their expertise and resist replacing human-centric tasks with AI simulations.
- The best part of user research is the human connection, which AI cannot replicate.