One of the major trends I’ve observed with the “rise of AI” (yes, this sounds like a dystopian fever dream) is the rush to replace some part of the product, design, and engineering trio.
”If I can vibe code an app as a PM, I won’t need those slow UX designers and stubborn Devs.”
”Finally, I can just build the apps I’ve designed for true user needs with no PM or Dev holding back my design vision.”
”AI is already hugely speeding up my coding; if it can now produce pretty layouts as well, I won’t have to deal with nitpicking creatives and just ship apps.”
Sound familiar?
No matter which role you’re in, UX, DEV, or PM, I’m sure you have thought or at least heard one of these sentiments in the last months.
And I get it. Heck, I’ve always been tempted to build my own stuff.
But the truth is, the idea has quite a few flaws:
1. Great products are built in collaboration with experts in their discipline, not in their absence. Remember, you wanted a seat at the table where all the important decisions were made? There is a reason for that. You knew that your input as a UXer mattered just as much as the rest, and joining forces brought the best out of every discipline. Do you really want a table all by yourself?
2. The tools are more limited than we think. I really wish we had tools that were great at producing high-quality, scalable systems with truly unique, creative, and usable interfaces based on nothing more than a conversation. It would make me feel like Tony Stark. Unfortunately, the output is very derivative, basic, and, to no surprise, pretty uninspired, and anyone without deep knowledge of code will quickly find themselves googling code errors instead of creating the next big thing.
3. The work happens before the vibe. As designers, we know that our work doesn’t begin with pushing pixels in Figma, and it doesn’t end at the idea for an app. Building a product that’s truly impactful demands thorough investigation of the problem and thoughtful creation of the right solution.
⠀That happens in listening, learning, and concept work, and while skipping these steps to just vibe code a thing might get you to running code, chances are high your app will resemble something from Dr. Frankenstein’s lab.
”Alright, Marvin, so you’re having a Gen X moment and you’re missing out on a future you don’t understand.”
I know this might sound outdated, but I believe we should be working to reverse this trend. Yes, tools become more powerful, and AI may be the most powerful we’ve seen in this industry so far. But this only means we should be encouraged to collaborate more rather than less.
When business advocates, technical experts, and creative designers continue to join forces and use AI tools to fire up their joint superpowers, we may actually be in for a huge wave of vastly impactful innovation that truly improves the way we live and doesn't just fatten up a few bank accounts.
After all, there is a reason why Iron Man was a part of the Avengers.
