AI Interfaces and the Role of Good Writing
If you've used an AI product recently, you probably know that the technology is amazing. The user experience? Not so much.
Perhaps you've already gotten used to typing prompts or using simple one-click tools. But as AI interfaces begin to take on different forms, many of them are still somewhat difficult to understand. Navigating them can be exhausting. It doesn't feel like you're... using these products, but rather deciphering The engineering is powerful, but the flows don't make sense.
If you're lost in the flow of AI users, blame the writing.
Many of these tools use unclear labels, make false promises, or simply fill their interfaces with vague, hyphenated phrases like "AI-enabled.".
Usability concerns make sense because AI is relatively new. We've seen this happen before. Think about the first time you touched a smartphone. Or the first time you sent an email. Every major change requires some adaptation. As new technologies emerge, new interaction patterns arise. And the role of words in the interface needs to be discovered.
The solution: good UX writing. Intelligent, strategic, and honest language that maintains user clarity and simplifies products. It's more important than ever.
So, if you're designing an AI product, here are some things to consider.
Define your audience.
And do it. before Writing. The first step in writing is understanding your reader. This decision will influence how you write. It will also influence your feature set and the product roadmap. Different audiences need different things. An AI fact-checking tool for journalists will be very different from one for biology students.
Understand who you are writing for and how they will use your product.
Decide where AI fits into the product.
This means shaping the strategy and architecture of everything you're building. Before adding AI language and icons to every screen, align your approach to AI. AI is present in all Is the product just a feature? Is there a character that sits "on top" of the interface?
Now is also a good time to ask: does your product use AI? Have an open conversation. If it's not AI, don't say it is.
Guide the user's entry process.
Millions of people are still learning how AI products work. So, when writing, think about the beginner user. Will they know what to search for? Which file to send? Where to find help? Find ways to share guidance or give examples. The best products make sense from the first screen.
Add structure to your writing.
Formatting is important, especially for readability. When choosing good words, think about shape, size, color, and spacing. Find the right approach for your information. Perhaps this is the perfect paragraph. Increasingly, these are short, easy-to-read passages. Experiment with different ways to present the same idea. You can work with the engineering team to create guidelines on how the text will be displayed.
Choose smart and specific actions.
This is one of the most difficult language snippets to find in AI tools. What does the product really... he does Language shapes understanding, so try different ways of approaching the same feature. Experiment with different phrases to see what works best. A button that says "use AI" isn't accurate enough.
Take a useful next step.
The best AI products are more than intuitive—they're predictive. They understand user needs and suggest a path forward. The next time you're designing a screen for your product, consider what might come next. Explore common use cases and try to avoid dead ends.
Label your interface honestly.
Whatever your product, make it clear what came from AI. Users should know if they're talking to a chatbot—or a person. They should know if the music was written by a musician—or generated by an app. The solution is simple: use words and images to tell the truth.
Show your sources.
It's a way to build trust with the user. It's also a way to keep people safe. Showing your source doesn't seem so urgent if you're displaying NBA scoring titles. But AI products are now commonly used in areas like nutrition, finance, and medicine. Users need to know where important information comes from.
Write to all people
Many of today's AI products were developed for early adopters. These products use the language—and acronyms—of engineering. And they presuppose a deep understanding of technology.
As AI products become more popular, the writing in their interfaces must also evolve. The writing must become more readable. Respectful. Inclusive.
Creating this language requires talent and experience. It demands deep knowledge and a sense of empathy. Sure, AI tools can generate endless amounts of text. But to create and deliver great products, you need people on the team who truly know how. to write.
