Thoughts on AI, XR, UI, UX, etc. Part 1 - The Fusion
i’ve been a keen observer for the past two decades, closely studying the evolution of user interface (ui) design. today, we are in an exciting new era, thanks to the rising tide of artificial intelligence (ai) and extended reality (xr) technologies.
ai is a high-form extension of our mind.
ai is reshaping our world, revolutionizing how we interact with machines. combined with xr technologies, we’re moving towards a future of diverse, personalized interactions that transforms devices into virtual spaces. these advancements will revolutionize our digital interactions in ways we could only imagine.
xr is a high-form extension of our space.
the emergence of xr technology, which places our bodies in a virtual space, will enable the creation of new gestures that can interact with technology in incredible ways — paving the way for dynamic interfaces that adapt and learn from the user in real time.
the combination of ai and xr is a novel thing that defies simple description. it’s a bit like adding one and one together and getting three — a mysterious and exciting outcome that we’re still trying to fully understand. it’s similar to blending two distinct genres of music. the resulting sound can only be truly felt, not easily explained in words.
ai and xr are opening up new opportunities for designers to experiment with innovative approaches.
a wise man once said, “we shape our tools. thereafter, they shape us”. i think this couldn’t be more true today. as ai increasingly integrates into our lives, our devices become more attuned to our needs. gone are the days of manually commanding every operation.
now, our machines learn from us, adapt to us, and anticipate our needs.
think how voice assistants like alexa or siri work: we no longer need to navigate complex menus or learn specific commands. instead, technology understands and responds to natural language, adapting to our needs and teaching itself how to best serve us.
we expect, and they do. the script has flipped.
and in exchange, ai will train us humans to ask the right questions, leading us to be more specific and intentional in our queries. it will be less about “what this piece of hardware and software can do for me?” and more about “what do i want? how can i best describe it?”.
for example, instead of searching for ‘restaurants nearby,’ we might ask ‘what is the highest-rated thai restaurant within a 10-minute walk?’”
this is great since successful people are the ones who train themselves not to give the best answers but to ask the right questions. imagine more people knowing how to ask better questions — raising humankind’s consciousness.