The role of AI in the UX sector in 2023

In these first months of 2023, AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become extremely popular. Tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney are starting to be used for all kinds of tasks. More and more doubts arise about whether they will be able to replace the work of real people in the short or medium term.

AI is not meant to replace the human role in the user experience environment. On the contrary, AI tools can improve productivity and work methods. Discovering how they impact the day-to-day life of the sector, and what new skills will be required, is key to adapting to our new technological reality.

In this article, we will first talk about AI’s two main impacts on user experience and, to finish, we’ll look at some of the Artificial Intelligence tools that might interest professionals in this sector.

Anticipating the user

One of the things that usually consumes a large amount of human resources in companies is data analysis. Being able to constantly know the evolution of users and their relationship with the brand is a task which is becoming exponentially difficult. As a company gets bigger and expands its portfolio of products and customers, control over what happens in its niche market diminishes. Consequently, it is also more difficult to predict both problems and potential opportunities for the business.

With the use of AI, UX professionals have a tool that analyzes data at high speed and also has the ability to learn from it. It can collect information linked to small actions, such as: the decrease in the frequency of use of a product or service, the duration of sessions, the lack of interest in updates or promotions or negative participation in social networks, and many more.

Drawing from a wide variety of data, AI can identify patterns of behavior and develop predictive models that anticipate the possible abandonment of a customer and their reasons for doing so. This gives a company the chance to carry out proactive preventative measures, in addition to gaining a prior understanding of the causes of abandonment or dissatisfaction of its users. By using AI, companies can achieve the implementation of various improvements which are adapted to the real needs of their clients.

Inclusive and personalized experiences

There are many types of users, all of whom are likely to change their needs and preferences over time. However, companies do not have the resources to generate hundreds of different products and services, so adapting to as many individuals as possible is the challenge.

AI’s vast data-gathering capabilities make it much easier to create inclusive and personalized experiences. Understanding the specific characteristics of a user allows the interface and content to be adapted to each specific case, such as with: recommending products and services, changing pre-sets or automatically activating accessibility options for people with visual or motor disabilities. Like this, companies increase customer satisfaction and promote equal access and opportunities.

As a user interacts with a product or service algorithm, the AI learns what they need and how they communicate. In the case of chatbots, for example, customization extends to the adoption of the type of vocabulary and response style that person uses: short or long texts, using lots of detail or just a link, choosing a friendly or direct tone. This allows more personal treatment and, ultimately, a better user experience.

Platforms like Spotify use Artificial Intelligence algorithms for their recommendations based on users’ previous activity and the time of day.
Source: laSexta

AI tools for UX design

Currently there is a wide range of tools which use Artificial Intelligence to write texts or create images. However, others more oriented towards design, prototyping, programming and data analysis have also emerged, which can contribute a lot to UX processes. Here are some of the most relevant:

  • Uizard. This platform converts sketches of a design into an editable mock-up. This allows users to quickly go from paper sketch to digital wireframe, creating a UI prototype that can be modified very easily. It also allows users to generate heat maps and extract design trends used by other products or web environments.
  • GitHub Copilot. This AI offers auto-completion options for code writing in multiple programming languages, automatically copying those lines that appear repeatedly. It also provides hints and blocks of code in response to specific requests from the programmer, such as the need to configure a feature or perform an A/B test.
  • Khroma. Khroma facilitates the creation of color palettes, using aesthetically pleasing color combinations adapted to the user’s tastes. It works from the selection of a few keywords and allows great adjustment of the lightness, saturation and temperature of suggested colors.
  • Fronty. This platform analyzes any image and extracts the different components (headers, buttons, text blocks, etc.), converting them into HTML and CSS code files. It allows users to edit the result with a high level of detail and from a visual editor, which automatically transfers all the modifications to the programming language.
  • UXCam. This analyzes user interaction when using an app, offering metrics that include everything from the time spent typing or holding down a button, to what kind of gestures users make on the screen of their device. It also records users’ journeys through the different steps or screens.

The use of AI is already integrated into the daily personal and work lives of thousands of people. If you want to learn how to use these tools to improve the efficiency of your teams and optimize the user experience, at GammaUX we have a team of specialists in trends and technology who will be happy to help you. We’d love to hear from you!