AI in UX Research: Automating Usability Studies
In a dimly lit meeting room at a hectic tech startup, UX researcher Abhi had a common challenge. A new feature in an app was launching the next week, yet the usability testing was only in its infant stages. Overdue deadlines require actionable insights quick. Staring into stacks of notes and hours of user recordings, Abhi asked, “What if there were a better way?”
Enter AI, the unsung hero of modern UX research.
The Turning Point: From Manual to Automated
Typically, usability studies require a lot of elbow grease. Researchers watch users interact with prototypes, take reams of notes, and manually sift through patterns. It gets the job done but is slow and vulnerable to human error.
Abhi’s story changed when her team introduced to her an AI-powered usability testing platform. The platform promised she would get real-time analytics, automated transcription, and actionable insights without endlessly observing sessions. She wasn’t a believer but extremely desperate, so she tried it.
The results changed everything.
How AI Reforms Usability Testing
Real-Time Data Analysis
During a usability session, Abhi monitored how the AI captured the interactions of the users. In real-time, mouse movement, clicks, and scrolls were represented in a graphical heatmap. It was thus possible to highlight probable trouble areas — buttons users are…
