The initial fortune-telling app was too generic. By providing simple, natural language feedback like "make it kid-friendly" and "more concrete," the developer iteratively guided the AI to produce a more suitable user experience without writing a single line of code.
Generative UI tools do more than just build apps. By allowing non-technical users to iterate on an idea through natural language, they naturally encounter and solve fundamental computer science problems like data modeling and abstraction without formal training.
Many teams wrongly focus on the latest models and frameworks. True improvement comes from classic product development: talking to users, preparing better data, optimizing workflows, and writing better prompts.
For those without a technical background, the path to AI proficiency isn't coding but conversation. By treating models like a mentor, advisor, or strategic partner and experimenting with personal use cases, users can quickly develop an intuitive understanding of prompting and AI capabilities.
After several iterations, the fortune-telling app started overusing the word "rock," generating similar fortunes about finding rocks that look like pizza or cupcakes. This highlights how generative AI can fixate on a theme, demonstrating the need for human testing and curation to ensure variety and quality.
Users mistakenly evaluate AI tools based on the quality of the first output. However, since 90% of the work is iterative, the superior tool is the one that handles a high volume of refinement prompts most effectively, not the one with the best initial result.
When using "vibe-coding" tools, feed changes one at a time, such as typography, then a header image, then a specific feature. A single, long list of desired changes can confuse the AI and lead to poor results. This step-by-step process of iteration and refinement yields a better final product.
The early focus on crafting the perfect prompt is obsolete. Sophisticated AI interaction is now about 'context engineering': architecting the entire environment by providing models with the right tools, data, and retrieval mechanisms to guide their reasoning process effectively.
The best agentic UX isn't a generic chat overlay. Instead, identify where users struggle with complex inputs like formulas or code. Replace these friction points with a native, natural language interface that directly integrates the AI into the core product workflow, making it feel seamless and powerful.
AI development has evolved to where models can be directed using human-like language. Instead of complex prompt engineering or fine-tuning, developers can provide instructions, documentation, and context in plain English to guide the AI's behavior, democratizing access to sophisticated outcomes.
The promise of AI shouldn't be a one-click solution that removes the user. Instead, AI should be a collaborative partner that augments human capacity. A successful AI product leaves room for user participation, making them feel like they are co-building the experience and have a stake in the outcome.