Written by Dayton Kelly
May 2023
<aside> 📌 Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the position of my employer or affiliated organizations.
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Before we begin, a quick definition of AI: AI is not ChatGPT. AI is the technology that mimics human intelligence, allowing machines to solve complex problems, learn, and make decisions. In the next 10 to 50 years, AI will continue to advance and play a significant role in automating tasks, aiding scientific discoveries, and enhancing various industries. Its impact will be widespread, enhancing our daily lives and transforming society in positive ways.
The short answer for why product designers should care about AI is because product designers are responsible for designing everyone’s future. The future of how people work and live is intricately linked to the advancements in technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). As we venture into this unprecedented era, product designers have a valuable role in guiding the development of AI products to ensure they have positive downstream impacts, are inclusive for all and enrich the human experience.
Within this current century, our society will reach a point where most people in the world will have multiple AI assistants guiding and executing tasks for them every single day. AI assistants in the form of a refrigerator auto-ordering the delivery of ingredients when it senses the produce has gone rotten, a car autoplaying your favorite album when you get into the drivers seat on the first day of summer, and your personal devices being able to sense and uplift your mood. This is the kind of future we believe we can achieve by leveraging Artificial Intelligence. A future that enhances every day life by bringing more joy, automating tasks, supporting mental health and so much more. The purpose of this vision for AI aligns with Maslow’s Hierarch of Needs:
AI will enable people to think less about their daily Physiological and Safety needs, and focus their energy towards Love and Belonging, Esteem, and Self-actualization. In other words, AI has the potential to enable everyone to truly enter the pursuit of happiness.