Why must HCI practitioners/researchers be aware of AI?

This is an important question because, apart from accommodating AI requirements and contributing to its advancement. By observing the widespread implementation of AI across various sectors in today’s world, including both the public and private sectors, it is evident that the traditional way of approaching HCI needs to evolve more rapidly. This shift is necessary to account for the impact of AI on the overall user experience in technology.

AI, from the perspective of an HCI practitioner, is not about the technical processes that make the technology more intelligent or the hardware that makes it more efficient. Those aspects are the domain of AI experts. Instead, HCI practitioners need to focus on how AI technology affects users, particularly in terms of their thinking and decision-making processes, because there is no doubt that people will increasingly rely on AI to make decisions, from small everyday choices to major, important ones.

To put this into context, every time a new technology is invented, apart from benefiting people in terms of the problems it solves, it can also affect them in negative ways. This is similar to when the calculator was invented. Although it helps people solve complex mathematical equations more quickly, it has also led to a reduced ability to perform mental arithmetic. As a result, people may become less confident or slower when calculating without the tool. The same applies to other technologies, such as GPS navigation systems and many others.

The impact of AI is much bigger than tools like calculators or GPS. This is because AI is not only helping users to complete tasks, but it is also shaping how they think, decide, and interact with the world.

Things to ponder,

1. AI is now widely used in many sectors, including education at all levels. From primary school to university, students are exposed to AI tools in their daily learning activities. Over time, this makes the younger generation very familiar and comfortable with relying on AI. It slowly becomes part of their normal way of doing things, not just a tool they use occasionally.
2. Because of this constant exposure, AI begins to influence how users decide what is right and wrong, or what is good and bad. When users frequently depend on AI for answers, suggestions, or feedback, they may start to trust it without questioning. This can shape their judgement, sometimes without them even realizing it.
3. The persuasive power of AI is increasing over time. As AI processes more data and learns from user interactions, it becomes better at giving responses that feel relevant, convincing, and personal. This makes users more likely to accept what the AI suggests. The more people use it, the more the system improves, and the stronger its influence becomes.
4. This situation changes how we understand user experience. HCI practitioners can no longer rely only on traditional methods to study user preferences. Users are no longer interacting with fixed systems. They are interacting with systems that learn, adapt, and evolve. To truly understand users today, and even more in the future, we must also understand how AI is shaping their behaviour and expectations over time.

For those working in privacy and ethics, there is a growing responsibility to guide how AI should be designed and used. It is not enough to focus only on technical performance. There must be clear guidelines to ensure that AI supports users in a responsible way. This includes protecting user data, avoiding manipulation, and ensuring that AI systems act in ways that are aligned with human values.

Human values? Then it leads to philosophical questions that require a deeper understanding… (continue in part 2)