AI Agent Experience (AX)
In an article I recently co-authored, we argued that a fundamental shift is underway in product design. The traditional principles of User Experience (UX), which rest on direct user control and manipulation, are becoming obsolete with the rise of true AI agents.
Here is a summary of our main points:
We defined this new paradigm as "Agent Experience" (AX), where the user’s role evolves from an active operator to a supervisor. Unlike simple assistants like Siri, true AI agents can independently manage complex, multi-step goals. This means users will no longer navigate intricate workflows but will instead state their objectives and oversee the AI's execution.
Our article posits that designers must now build "cockpits" or dashboards for monitoring and intervention, rather than step-by-step task flows. In this new world, natural language becomes the primary interface, and the core design challenge is to establish trust by ensuring the user remains the ultimate authority with clear pathways to step in and manage their AI counterparts. We concluded that the companies that succeed will be those that best empower users to supervise these increasingly autonomous systems confidently.