The Overly Eager Intern

AI is like that overly eager intern: full of energy, quick with drafts, and capable of making things faster—but also the kind of helper who forgets where they saved the files and labels every button “Click Here.”

What AI Gets Right

There’s no denying it—AI is a fantastic tool for designers. I use it to brainstorm layouts, generate filler copy, test different flow ideas, even sanity-check assumptions. It’s like having an extra set of hands that never gets tired. With the right prompt, you can generate 20 variations of a landing page before lunch. That kind of speed is game-changing.

What AI Still Misses

But here’s the catch: AI doesn’t understand. It doesn’t know that users skim, not read. It doesn’t grasp that clutter overwhelms or that Grandma still doesn’t trust the hamburger menu. AI can mimic patterns, but it can’t feel empathy—the core skill of good UX.

Why Designers Still Matter

Great design isn’t about speed or output volume. It’s about clarity, context, and human understanding. Why do users abandon carts? Why do they get stuck on step three of a signup flow? Why does a confusing label cause them to rage-click the back button? These are the problems designers solve with observation, psychology, and logic—things AI doesn’t quite get.

That’s not to say AI has no role. It’s brilliant at clearing creative roadblocks, handling repetitive tasks, or stress-testing ideas. But it’s a tool, not a replacement. Think of it like spellcheck: helpful, yes, but you still need to write the sentence yourself.

So, should designers fear AI? Not at all. The best designers will be the ones who learn how to harness it—saving time on the grunt work so they can focus on the part that machines still can’t do: seeing the world through a user’s eyes.

For now, AI can sit in the passenger seat. The steering wheel? That stays human.