Building the plane as it flies through a black hole: revising five UX research practices for generative AI development by Samantha Dempsey

Drawing on her experience as a UX researcher embedded in the wild world of generative AI research and development, Samantha will share how she has changed her design practice at IBM Research to adapt to and find success within this quickly shifting landscape of emerging technology. The pace, uncertainty, and increasing velocity of generative AI development has shaped her approach and will require dramatic changes from UX professionals at the heart of these R & D efforts. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the five key changes designers and researchers need to make to traditional UX & UXR practices to create human-centered impact on this emerging technology as well as concrete actions to jumpstart these changes.

1. Building the Plane as it
Flies Through a Black Hole
Revising five UX research practices
for generative AI development
Samantha Dempsey | 2025
Opinions expressed are solely my own.

5. UX needs to be in the
room where it happens

6. Five changes to
UXR practices for
gen AI development

7. 1 Launch to learn

8. 1 Launch to learn
Run post-launch research à la prototyping
(but minimize the potential for harm)

9. 2 Prophesize your users
(they might not exit yet)

10. 2 Prophesize your users
Learn Python & talk to end-users before
the tech is ready for them
(they might not exit yet)

11. 3 Learn like it’s your job

12. 3 Learn like it’s your job
Hold time each week to teach
yourself the science

13. 4 Know your values

14. 4 Know your values
Define your preferred future

15. 5 Share what you learn

16. 5 Share what you learn
Get on up here!

17. [email protected]