There’s been a lot of buzz lately about AI in the UX world.
And a subscriber recently asked me what I think about it:
“AI can do a lot of things, and quickly. Do you anticipate a need for UX researchers? Where are we headed as a field given the advance of AI?” – Janice
It’s a great question, and thank you for asking!
Ahh, AI.
Short answer: Yes, there’ll still be a need for UX Researchers (and not because I’m biased!). We may not be called UX Researchers someday, but the skills we possess are all very human.
I mean we literally do research to plan out business strategy. How can any business function without that?
We are essentially business consultants, with a heavy focus on our users. Simple as that.
And in the age of GenAI, we (UX researchers) must do our part in keeping our work focused on people. Isn’t that why we got into this field?
That being said, AI tools have been extremely helpful at augmenting our work (and in basically many other fields of work, too). I’m sure many of you have tried it and can attest to that!
So getting to know these tools will be something everyone must need.
But AI didn’t build us. We built it. Ultimately, we still need researchers to guide AI, make use of its insights, and drive change.
AI cannot take responsibility for understanding the user. That’s the job of a UX researcher.
And more importantly…
AI cannot lead people.
(Or can it?? 🤔 I’m thinking terminator/skynet lol)
As useful as AI is, it can’t manage stakeholders, navigate office politics, and advocate for the user.
Only a human can do that… because these are leadership skills and people skills.
And as I said in my last email about the importance of leadership…
Leadership skills are at least HALF of the job of a UX researcher.
The REAL danger of AI (that no one’s talking about)
The truth is, you don’t have to be afraid of AI replacing you.
You have to be afraid of YOURSELF not having the fundamentals.
Because without a strong foundation of UX research knowledge, we might blindly trust what AI tells us…
And end up making critical mistakes in our research.
It’s a case of not knowing what you don’t know. I want you to know what you know and know what you don’t know.
(I’ve seen AI get even basic things very wrong, while being wildly confident in its responses. And it can lead you astray if you haven’t mastered the fundamentals first.)
That being said, AI can be an incredibly powerful tool in the hands of a skilled UX researcher.
(In fact, I have lessons on how to effectively use AI in my Self-Paced Masterclass.)
But at the end of the day, AI is a tool.
And like any tool, it’s only as good as the person using it.
The bottom line?
AI isn’t going to replace UX researchers anytime soon.
And the researchers who thrive in the future will be those who know how to effectively leverage AI…
While still maintaining a strong foundation in UX research fundamentals.
So if you want to future-proof your UX research career, focus on mastering the fundamentals first.
That’s why Kobe Bryant was great, because he stressed the importance of fundamentals over fancy things.
Like I’ve always said, the fundamentals age like fine wine
(But don’t mistake fundamentals for easy.)
Then once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, you can use AI as a powerful tool to enhance your work, rather than replace it.
And speaking of mastering the fundamentals…
My Zero to UX Self-Paced Masterclass is designed to give you a rock-solid foundation in ALL aspects of UX research!
(Wow look at that segue, did you see that coming?? 😁)
It covers literally everything you need to know — from the basics to cutting-edge advanced UXR strategies that the top companies are using.
Including how to effectively use AI in your UX research process… so you can benefit from AI and use it to be a better UX researcher.
So if you’re interested in enrolling (and learning everything you need to crush it as a UX researcher now and in the future)…
Go here to enroll in the Self-Paced Masterclass
Mad love,
Kevin