Designers, particularly those working with content, increasingly use AI to summarize workshops, draft user stories, translate content, analyze tone, create templates, and accelerate research tasks. Despite this widespread use, many content designers are not involved in the development of the AI tools shaping their industry.

At a recent industry meetup focused on AI’s impact on user experience, participants discussed how AI already influences design work but often without direct input from content specialists. Several attendees admitted feeling hesitant or even ashamed about using AI, fearing it might appear as cutting corners. Others expressed enthusiasm but were uncertain how to begin integrating AI responsibly.

The discussion highlighted a tension between curiosity and skepticism. One participant posed a critical question: “If AI isn’t telling the truth, what is it doing? And what does that mean for people who care deeply about clarity, trust, and truth?”

Speakers compared the current AI landscape to the early days of social media—an era of rapid change, opportunity, and significant risk. Unlike that earlier period, attendees stressed the importance of approaching AI with foresight, ethics, and inclusivity.

Participants emphasized practical steps for content designers:

• Use AI to handle administrative work, freeing time to focus on real user needs.
• Test tools like Miro AI to summarize insights and improve prompt quality.
• Examine biases in AI outputs rather than accepting them at face value.
• Advocate for datasets and systems that represent diverse users, beyond default language or cultural assumptions.
• Remain transparent about successes, failures, and ongoing learning with AI tools.

The underlying message was clear: if content designers do not actively shape AI systems, others will, and those decisions may not prioritize clarity, inclusion, or trust.

Conclusion:
The meetup underscored that AI is not a threat to replace designers but an opportunity to expand their influence. Attendees called on peers to share experiments, foster open dialogue, challenge problematic designs, and lead in shaping AI’s future.