The Form of AI

Interview:

What is the focus of your work?

The focus of my work is bridging the gap between emerging technologies—like AI and other innovations born in research labs—and real-world applications that are both useful and desirable. I do this through human-centered design, product strategy, and innovation, pushing new technologies to align with human wants and needs while leveraging their full potential. My work spans multiple industries, from global electronics and tech to social media and gaming, helping companies define what’s next for their consumer products and design the next generation of interactions.

What’s the motivation for your talk?

As AI lowers barriers to creation, enabling a greater number of technical folks to realize their ideas, it’s becoming increasingly important for software engineers to be able to understand user research and design. The ability to build is powerful, but the real impact comes from combining technical capabilities with a deep understanding of human needs. The motivation for my talk comes from my own journey—from software engineering to designing software and hardware—and the realization that the most transformative innovations come when we bring together technical abilities and design to create meaningful, useful experiences.

Who is your talk for?

My talk is for engineers, designers, product leaders—anyone interested in shaping the future of AI by exploring the forms it might take and how to create experiences people truly want to use. It’s about using the act of building as a way to uncover what AI is capable of and mapping those capabilities  to human needs, different value systems, and new ways of thinking. By approaching AI design with this mindset, we can move beyond legacy assumptions and shape the next generation of technology in ways that are more intentional, useful, and impactful.

What do you want someone to walk away with from your presentation?

I want attendees to walk away with the understanding that as creators and builders, we are all designers, too. There’s immense power in recognizing how design intersects with technology—and with that power comes responsibility. The choices we make shape how AI integrates into people’s lives, and we should take that role seriously. At the same time, this next generation of technology holds incredible potential, and unlocking it requires the right orientation: a mindset that explores not just what AI can do, but what it should do to create meaningful, transformative experiences.

What do you think is the next big disruption in software?

The biggest disruption in software right now is AI, particularly in how it enables new forms of assistance. But what’s on the horizon—and what really interests me—is the evolution of the marketplaces through which we access and use technology. The iPhone’s success wasn’t just about the hardware; it was the App Store that unlocked its full potential, fueling a wave of innovation and the startup boom. I think we’re at a similar inflection point with AI. The way we find, create, and interact with software is going to change radically, moving beyond the app model we’re familiar with. The next big disruption will redefine how we access information, experiences, and tools—shaping entirely new ways of getting things done.