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Rarely do we get the chance to pause and reflect on the conversations we’ve been having—and to spot the red threads that run through them. But that’s exactly what we’re doing today.
We’re trying out a new format—we’re calling it The Roundup. Think of it as a prototype. We’d love your feedback.
In this episode, we’re revisiting past conversations through the lens of AI. It’s a fun new way to explore themes that have come up across episodes, highlight insights from our guests, and help you synthesize ideas you can apply in your own work.
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This ad-supported episode is available to everyone. If you’d like to hear it ad-free, upgrade to our premium subscription, where you’ll get an additional 2 ad-free episodes per month (4 total). Premium subscribers also get access to the documentary Design Disruptors and our growing library of books, as well as our monthly AMAs with former guests, ad-free episodes, discounts and early access to workshops, and our monthly newsletter The Brief that compiles salient insights, quotes, readings, and creative processes uncovered in the show.
What you’ll learn in this episode
Changing Roles & Workflows
Scott Belsky (Adobe’ Chief Strategy Officer) discusses "boundaryless workflows" where AI collapses the steps between ideation and execution
The concept of "collapsed talent stacks" where individuals can now perform multiple functions that previously required separate specialists
Evolution of Design Jobs
Jenny Blackburn (design team lead for Google Gemini) shares how her team is "inventing the next version of UX jobs" as boundaries blur between roles
New UX jobs are emerging around defining great AI responses from a user perspective
AI as Creative Partner
Marcus Bell (music producer for artists like Snoop Dogg) explains how AI has transformed music production, enabling him to do what once required five people
Bell predicts AI will enable "hyper-personalization" of music based on individual needs and preferences
AI as Co-Pilot
John Maeda (VP of Design and AI at Microsoft) emphasizes that humans should remain the "pilots" with AI as the "co-pilot"
Using AI as a thought partner to overcome creative roadblocks
Architectural Design Transformation
Matthias Hollwich (co-founder of architecture firm HWKN) describes how his firm has completely retooled around AI-supported design processes
Finding value in being "surprised with new solutions" rather than just optimizing existing approaches
Ethical Considerations
Discussion about the responsibilities of designers, engineers, product managers, and executives regarding AI ethics
Concerns about AI companions for children and the importance of maintaining human connections
Future of AI: Agents
Amy Lokey (Chief Experience Officer at ServiceNow) explains how AI agents and orchestrators can work together on complex tasks
The "read-write" approach where AI agents gather and analyze information, but humans make final decisions
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