Power users are discovering that direct, conversational interaction with AI agents is more efficient than clicking through graphical user interfaces (GUIs). This signals a shift toward an 'app-less' world where tasks are accomplished via chat, potentially making traditional UI/UX design roles redundant for many applications.
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The next generation of software may lack traditional user interfaces. Instead, they will be 'API-first' or 'agent-first,' integrating directly into existing workflows like Slack or email. Software will increasingly 'visit the user' rather than requiring the user to visit a dashboard.
Generative AI primarily changes an app's user interface, but agentic AI can bypass UIs entirely to complete tasks. This makes transaction-fulfillment apps, which constitute a huge portion of the market, vulnerable to being replaced by agents that act directly on a user's behalf.
The true evolution of voice AI is not just adding voice commands to screen-based interfaces. It's about building agents so trustworthy they eliminate the need for screens for many tasks. This shift from hybrid voice/screen interaction to a screenless future is the next major leap in user modality.
AI agents are becoming the dominant source of internet traffic, shifting the paradigm from human-centric UI to agent-friendly APIs. Developers optimizing for human users may be designing for a shrinking minority, as automated systems increasingly consume web services.
Comparing chat interfaces to the MS-DOS command line, Atlassian's Sharif Mansour argues that while chat is a universal entry point for AI, it's the worst interface for specialized tasks. The future lies in verticalized applications with dedicated UIs built on top of conversational AI, just as apps were built on DOS.
A huge portion of product development involves creating user interfaces for backend databases. AI-powered inference engines will allow users to state complex goals in natural language, bypassing the need for traditional UIs and fundamentally changing software development.
The next user interface paradigm is delegation, not direct manipulation. Humans will communicate with AI agents via voice, instructing them to perform complex tasks on computers. This will shift daily work from hours of clicking and typing to zero, fundamentally changing our relationship with technology.
Legora pivoted from a dashboard with six fixed functions to a chat interface. They realized a fixed UI requires constant updates, whereas a conversational UI automatically becomes more powerful as the underlying LLMs improve, allowing the product to "rise with the tide" of AI progress.
The primary interface for services is shifting from websites to conversational AI agents. Users form personal preferences and history with their chosen AI (e.g., ChatGPT) and will expect to perform tasks like opening a bank account through that trusted agent, forcing companies to create a great "Agent Experience."
The hype around individuals building their own apps with AI misses the bigger picture. According to Sierra CEO Bret Taylor, the fundamental shift is from graphical interfaces to conversational agents, which will change software form factors, business models, and user interaction entirely.
