Buttons in An AI World
Mar 17
Some AI enthusiasts think the future will have no apps, just an AI chat interface.
Describe a problem, and AI creates a custom app for you instantly.
These people don’t realize they aren’t normal. They are novelty-seeking, creative, digital-savvy people who love inventing and trying new things.
Most people aren't like this.
Most people just want a button.
And they want the button to be in the same place every time.
If I need to get somewhere, I want a "route" button and I want it in the same place. I don't want a custom designed app. I don't want endless customization — I want simple choices made by experts who know what works.
Think about restaurants. We don't walk in and ask the chef to create a unique dish just for us. We look at a menu with tested options that work. We pick something, and we're done. That's what most people want from technology too.
Thinking everyone will become good at designing their perfect digital tools is both too optimistic and not creative enough.
It's too optimistic because it assumes people want this level of creativity. Most problems are mundane and shared by many people. There is no need for AI to invent a new app just for you.
And most people want an app maker to think through needs, edge cases, and more. They struggle to describe what they actually want.
Most of us don't want the novelty of AI-invented apps.
It's not creative enough because it misses the likely future for AI: being our invisible assistant that works with existing apps for us, pressing buttons and showing options only when needed.
Your AI won't solve common problems wholly from scratch. Instead, it will use established apps that have been honed to perfection and are themselves infused with AI.
The future of AI is a helpful guide showing you the best options, not creating novel experiences over and over. It knows what you like and guides you.
The best digital experiences don't offer infinite choices. They use expertise and user understanding. Similarly, AI's best future isn't creating endless custom apps. It's helping us navigate through well-designed digital options.
Most people don't want to build things from scratch. They want good solutions recommended by experts. They want clarity, simplicity, and a button that works.