As I work my way towards my thesis topic, I am struggling with the feeling that “UX design and AI” is both too broad and too specific. I also wonder if it’s really the topic for me, and I have been asking myself why I chose it in the first place, what exactly interests me, and most importantly, what am I passionate about?
I initially chose to research AI because I felt I had very little knowledge of it, and I wanted to empower myself, and others by extension, to understand and use AI. Last semester, I floated the idea of designing an app using as much AI as possible, and writing a thesis on the process and outcome. But after a summer of reflection, that concept isn’t sitting quite right with me.
My initial interest in AI was driven by my love of people and of helping others, not by my love of technological innovation. Although studying interaction design means that I possess the prerequisite of a fascination with technology, my strongest motivators come from a love of humanity and human connection rather than innovation for innovation’s sake.
If I were to design an app using as much AI as possible, who am I helping? What am I accomplishing? With AI developing so rapidly, surely my work will be outdated before I am even finished. This led me to consider other ways to use my now accumulated AI knowledge. Perhaps a guide for designers, maybe in the form of an app, on how to coexist peacefully with AI? I can’t say I have come even close to a conclusion, but I am keeping my core motivators front of mind as I move forward, with the hope that they will guide me to a topic that both poses a challenge and aligns with my values and interests.
