1/6: The resurgence of prompt interfaces in product design
As designers leveraging the latest AI technologies, it’s important that we take a brief look back and look at the history of interface design to notice the re-emergence of prompt based design that allows people to efficiently, intuitively and flexibly interact with tools to get desired outcomes.
Browse full 6 part series written by Dilip Jagadeesh and Kristina Rakestraw
We aspire to untangle the layers that compose effective prompt interface design — providing insights and strategies through a series of articles for you as you continue to shape the field.
We are at a turning point where the synergy between people and AI is reshaping our digital landscape. Traditional user interfaces have long grappled with the challenge of providing a myriad of controls and options, often resulting in cognitive overload and steep learning curves for people.
Earlier this year, while delving into the world of prompts for ChatGPT, we experienced a profound sense of déjà vu. We felt a sense of nostalgia for our first interaction with computers through a command prompt interface program called Logo. This program allowed for instructing a virtual turtle on the screen; Magically, it translated commands into intricate shapes.
A trip down memory lane sparked a realization — prompt interfaces echoe the simplicity and creativity of the beginnings of computers. As design leaders responsible for shaping AI based product experiences, we feel compelled to unpack these observations and learnings for others to leverage.
Prompt interfaces, leveraging natural language prompts, suggestions, and recommendations, offer a refreshing approach to user experience. What might seem simple is actually quite complex.
A Glimpse into history,
Prompt interfaces have deep roots throughout the history of Human-computer interaction (HCI). Remember old-school command prompt interfaces where people had to input complex commands? Even though they were limited and required advanced computer science knowledge, they still played a significant role in the history of HCI — despite how graphical user interfaces ultimately took center stage due to their user-friendliness.
Prompt interfaces have now made a comeback due to advancements in Generative Artificial Intelligence and natural language processing.
Advantages of prompt interfaces
This new generation of prompt interfaces have evolved significantly from the early days of typing commands — now allowing people to communicate with software naturally. They provide more intuitive and efficient interactions for complex workflows and data structures. People no longer have to tell computers what to do — instead they can tell it what they want.
Ai-based experiences offer the following value:
Efficiency
People can complete tasks faster and with less effort by typing or speaking their requests, eliminating the need to navigate complex menus or interfaces.
Example:
A person can ask a virtual assistant to order a specific type of pizza instead of navigating through complex menus.
Intuitiveness
Prompt interfaces enable people to interact with technology in a more human-like way. This can result in increased engagement with the product
Example:
A person can set up a complex task in project management software by simply conversing with the system.
The AI-powered prompt interface understands the request and asks for clarification if needed, just like a conversation with a friend or colleague. It streamlines the process, reduces the cognitive load, and adapts the software to natural language offering a more fluid and intuitive experience.
Streamlined flows
Prompt interfaces reduce cognitive load by eliminating the need for people to memorize complex commands, navigation models, or menu structures.
Example:
A creative trying to edit an image by removing noise around the subject does not have to select multiple tools and perform complex mouse and keyboard operations. Instead, they can select the object and share the intent in a prompt.
Flexibility and personalization
Prompt interfaces can continue to evolve through use in order to make the experience more relevant and personalized. Capturing intent, context and historic behavior allows for better suggestions over time.
Example:
A virtual assistant can learn a person’s preferences over a time and recommend the relevant restaurant options when prompted.
Improved accessibility
Prompt interfaces now offer more than text-based interactions. With large language models, it is now possible to combine various input methods such as speech-to-text, image, video, and gestures into a prompt. This allows people with disabilities to interact through alternative modes.
Example:
Apps like Be My Eyes — Virtual Volunteer™ empower individuals with limited vision to receive the same guidance as they would with a human.
Prompt interfaces are becoming increasingly common in various applications ranging from customer service to healthcare and education. Therefore, designers need to familiarize themselves with prompt interface design principles and best practices in order to create engaging and intuitive experiences.
Throughout this article series, we’ll delve into the world of prompt interfaces and how they’re transforming experiences for the better. We’ll explore foundational concepts of AI technologies that every designer should know and dive into the principles that guide the creation of impactful prompt interfaces. By the end of this series we hope you will be well-equipped to use prompt interfaces to their fullest potential so that you can craft experiences that are efficient, intuitive, streamlined, flexible, personal and accessible.
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