The best AI features aren’t flashy — they’re seamless. They don’t scream “Look, we used ChatGPT!” Instead, they quietly remove friction, anticipate needs, and accelerate progress.
Think of how Google Maps suggests alternate routes in traffic without being asked. That’s AI, woven into the experience. Now imagine an app where, instead of auto-generating everything, it learns your preferences and subtly improves recommendations over time. That’s intelligence users feel but never have to learn to use.
Workflow-First Thinking: Questions to Ask Before You Build
Before launching that genAI-powered feature, try this quick diagnostic:
- What part of the workflow are users struggling with?
- Have users told you — directly or indirectly — that they need help here?
- Will adding AI enhance flow, or add complexity?
- Can this be solved more simply without AI?
If you don’t have solid answers, you’re likely just layering tech on top of a broken process.
Use Cases Where AI Belongs in the Flow
Here are a few examples where genAI doesn’t just fit — it feels native:
1. Onboarding and Activation
Many products suffer from high drop-off during early use. Instead of static walkthroughs, AI can guide users through setup dynamically — adapting based on their responses, experience level, or goals.
Use AI here to accelerate the learning curve, not to show off your LLM budget.
2. Smart Summaries in High-Volume Contexts
Got power users buried in data, emails, or support tickets? Summarization tools can help them triage faster — if placed contextually, like a one-click option at just the right spot.
Don’t throw summaries at users. Embed them where speed matters most.
3. Dynamic Content Assistance
For products involving writing, presenting, or decision-making, AI can jump in as a brainstorming partner — but only when invited. Think “Help me rewrite this,” not “We already rewrote it for you!”
Co-pilot, not auto-pilot.
Avoid This Trap: The “Feature Frankenstein”
What we’re seeing across industries are Frankenstein interfaces: multiple AI features duct-taped together, each addressing a different need but none truly helping the whole experience.
It’s the classic “solutions in search of a workflow.”
Instead, map out the user journey. Then ask:
- Where is cognitive load high?
- Where are errors common?
- Where are drop-offs happening?
These are your AI opportunity zones — if the fix isn’t simpler without it.
The Future Isn’t AI-First — It’s User-First, with AI
GenAI is transformative, but transformation doesn’t come from tech alone. It comes from insight, empathy, and smart design. The teams who win with AI won’t be the ones with the flashiest features — they’ll be the ones who’ve designed the most frictionless flows.
So let’s stop obsessing over what AI can do, and start thinking about what users need done — and how AI can elegantly disappear into the process.
The future isn’t AI-led. It’s AI-integrated.
THINK WITH ALEC 
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