How do you create clear AI interfaces?

1 Know your users

The first step to create clear AI interfaces is to know who your users are, what they want to achieve, and how they prefer to interact with the AI. You can use various methods, such as user research, personas, scenarios, and user journeys, to gain insights into your users' goals, motivations, pain points, and preferences. You can also use feedback, testing, and analytics to measure and improve your users' satisfaction, trust, and loyalty.

2 Define your AI

The second step to create clear AI interfaces is to define what your AI can and cannot do, and how it works. You need to establish the scope, functionality, and logic of your AI, and document its inputs, outputs, and processes. You also need to communicate your AI's purpose, value proposition, and limitations to your users, using clear and consistent language, labels, and icons. You should avoid overpromising or underdelivering on your AI's performance, and explain how your users can control, correct, or override the AI.

3 Design your interactions

The third step to create clear AI interfaces is to design how your users and the AI will interact with each other, and with the interface elements. You need to consider the modalities, channels, and formats of your interactions, such as text, voice, gesture, image, or video. You also need to consider the timing, frequency, and intensity of your interactions, such as when, how often, and how much the AI should initiate, respond, or interrupt. You should aim to create natural, intuitive, and coherent interactions that match your users' expectations and contexts.

4 Visualize your data

The fourth step to create clear AI interfaces is to visualize the data that the AI generates, consumes, or manipulates. You need to choose the right type, style, and layout of your data visualizations, such as charts, graphs, maps, or tables. You also need to choose the right level, amount, and granularity of your data visualizations, such as summaries, details, or comparisons. You should aim to create clear, accurate, and relevant data visualizations that help your users understand, explore, or act on the data.

5 Personalize your experience

The fifth step to create clear AI interfaces is to personalize the experience that the AI delivers or enables for your users. You need to use the data and feedback that the AI collects, analyzes, or learns from your users, to tailor the interface content, features, or recommendations to their needs, preferences, or behaviors. You also need to respect your users' privacy, consent, and agency, and give them options to manage, adjust, or opt out of the personalization. You should aim to create personalized experiences that are useful, relevant, and respectful for your users.

6 Evaluate your ethics

The sixth step to create clear AI interfaces is to evaluate the ethics of your AI and its impact on your users and society. You need to consider the ethical principles, values, and standards that guide your AI design, development, and deployment, such as fairness, accountability, transparency, or safety. You also need to consider the ethical implications, risks, or trade-offs that your AI may pose or face, such as bias, discrimination, manipulation, or harm. You should aim to create ethical AI interfaces that are trustworthy, responsible, and beneficial for your users and society.

7 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?