Everyone’s first instinct for making their product feel more modern and “AI-native” is adding a chat interface.

It makes sense: users are already going to ChatGPT with questions they should be able to answer with your product.

But chat-as-entry-point isn’t the future of UX! It makes users work harder, limits discovery, and can feel too open-ended, like wandering without a map.

The alternative? AI patterns that feel native to your experience rather than bolted on.

I love what shapeof.ai catalogs: AI-powered UX patterns that act as a personal guide, anticipating needs and removing friction, such as:

  • Smart defaults that learn from behavior
  • Contextual suggestions at decision points
  • Proactive helpers that surface relevant info before you ask

AI disappears into the experience, making everything easier and more delightful. If you need some help brainstorming where your product can go, this is a great resource.