As AI projects gain traction and SaaS ventures become less popular to start, I’ve noticed a new mindset emerging-the belief that you can build an entire AI project on your own. The idea is that you don’t need a designer or even analysts to help shape your groundbreaking AI product because there’s now an abundance of AI tools, like Midjourney and DALL·E, that can assist with the process. But let me tell you-you couldn’t be more wrong, and I’m about to prove it.
So, why do you need a designer in the first place in this new era of AI tools for your AI project? I’m going to break it down and cover the most important aspects-focusing on the key principles behind creating truly great AI products.
AI Products Have More Functionalities Than Just Chat
Most AI products come with additional features that determine whether they are truly usable or not. Take image generation tools, for example-they offer a wide range of options like vary subtle, vary strong, or even a seed ID. But let’s be honest-does anyone even know what that is, anyway? ChatGPT is fairly simple since it’s just text-based, but when you move into text-to-image or text-to-video interfaces, it quickly becomes clear that a basic text field isn’t enough. Sure, you can use it by just typing in prompts, but without proper use of functionalities, you won’t be able to tap into its full potential.
Another example-take the Share feature in ChatGPT. Let’s face it, it just doesn’t work! Whether you’re trying to share a conversation with someone else or even a teammate, it’s always a hassle. More often than not, you’ll end up copying and pasting the answer instead because OpenAI clearly didn’t test or design this feature with usability in mind or is it just strategy? (evil laugh, not mine of course). To sum up, AI products are usually based on Writing functionalities, but not fully. You will still need to design a proper user flow and user interface with a UX designer, before starting the development of a feature.
Pricing segmentation and upsell
If you’re building a groundbreaking AI product, you’ll definitely want to monetize it somehow (those API credits can be a real hassle to pay for, right?). This means you’ll need a solid market strategy, a well-designed pricing structure, and upsell functionalities that encourage users to move up tier-not down.
This is where a skilled UX designer becomes invaluable. Figuring out the best places to introduce upsells and designing a smooth, effective funnel isn’t just an afterthought-it’s a crucial part of your product’s success. Because let’s be real, aside from great AI functionality, your second biggest priority is making sure users actually want to pay for it.
Great UI doesn’t automatically translate to great UX (even with AI generated graphics)
There are countless tools available for creating stunning assets-take Midjourney, for example, which we even shared tips and tricks for in one of our articles. Yes, you can use AI tools like this to generate benchmarks or even the visual assets you need for your project with ease.
But remember-UI is not UX. A visually impressive interface won’t save a poorly designed experience. If the entire user journey isn’t thoughtfully crafted, with all edge cases considered, you’ll likely run into serious user retention issues down the line. A beautiful UI means nothing if users get frustrated and leave.
Introducing AI features for Fintech and Health care
Some industries require extreme precision in user input and output, meaning they might not benefit from AI-driven features as much as others. Imagine you're planning a detailed travel itinerary for clients in a city you know nothing about. You could spend hours researching, or you could use an AI writing tool to generate ideas you might never have thought of on your own. In this case, AI is a helpful assistant.
Now, imagine using the same AI-generated interface to initiate a bank transaction or transfer money to another person or institution. The potential for errors is enormous-and the consequences could be serious. That’s why industries that rely on precision, like healthcare and fintech, will integrate AI carefully and sparingly. Many of the interfaces we use today in these fields will likely remain unchanged, even after the AI revolution.
If you're building an AI product in fintech or healthcare, it’s critical to carefully plan functionalities with a dedicated UX designer-ideally, one who specializes in the industry. At UX GIRL, fintech is one of our core specialties. We’ve honed our skills through years of experience and have mastered the craft of creating highly usable fintech interfaces.
Focus on Your Use-Who Is Still Human
The tools might be evolving, but remember-you’re still designing for human beings, and not everyone effortlessly navigates the ever-changing world of new tech. Sometimes, it’s better to stick with familiar interaction patterns rather than reinvent the wheel.
Take Windows ME, for example. Microsoft tried to revolutionize the operating system world, but instead of being embraced, it became one of the most infamous failures in tech history. Users found it confusing, buggy, and unintuitive, leading many to downgrade to older versions or simply wait for a completely new release rather than adapt to it. The lesson? No matter how advanced your AI product is, if the user experience isn’t intuitive and user-friendly, people won’t hesitate to abandon it.
So maybe it’s best to hire another human to design for a human-not a machine.
Afterword: The AI Revolution Needs Great UX-And So Do You
AI is changing the way we build products, but one thing remains the same-your users are still human. No matter how advanced your AI tool is, if people can’t navigate it easily, trust it, or see its full potential, they won’t use it.
That’s why great UX design isn’t optional-it’s essential. From crafting seamless user journeys to designing intuitive interactions, a skilled UX designer ensures that your AI product isn’t just powerful but also usable and profitable.
At UX GIRL, we specialize in creating AI-friendly, user-first designs, particularly in high-stakes industries like fintech and healthcare. Whether you're building a cutting-edge AI tool or enhancing an existing product, we can help you design experiences that delight users and drive business success.
Need a UX designer for your AI product? Let’s talk. Get in touch with UX GIRL today and let’s build something great together!
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