| name | ai-interaction-patterns |
| description | AI UX patterns — prompt UX, wayfinding, HITL, trust, disclosure, memory, generative UI. |
AI Interaction Patterns
AI-specific UX patterns for designing interfaces where users interact with AI models. Covers the full interaction lifecycle: from first prompt to output verification, memory persistence, and trust building.
Source: Based on Shape of AI pattern library (CC-BY-NC-SA) by Emily Campbell.
When to Use
Use these patterns when asking about AI UX, AI interaction, prompt UX, AI trust, AI disclosure, AI avatar, AI personality, AI memory UX, action plan UX, stream of thought, AI citations, AI controls, AI wayfinding, AI suggestions, gallery pattern, follow-up pattern, draft mode, AI variations, AI consent, AI caveat, human-in-the-loop, AI transparency, AI state, prompt design, AI onboarding, or generative UI.
How This Differs from Other UI/UX Skills
| Skill | Focus |
|---|
| 23-uiux-design-principles | Layout, hierarchy, responsive design (framework-agnostic) |
| 25-ai-interaction-patterns (this) | AI-SPECIFIC interaction logic: how users prompt, control, trust, and relate to AI |
Reference Documentation
Quick Pattern Selection
By User Problem
| User Says/Feels | Apply Pattern |
|---|
| "I don't know what to ask" | Gallery, Suggestions, Templates |
| "AI didn't understand me" | Follow-ups, Nudges, Prompt Enhancer |
| "I want alternatives" | Variations, Branches, Randomize |
| "Is this accurate?" | Citations, References, Caveat |
| "This is taking too long" | Draft Mode, Controls, Cost Estimates |
| "I need AI to do something complex" | Action Plan, Stream of Thought |
| "Is this AI or human?" | Disclosure, Avatar, Name |
| "Don't store my data" | Incognito Mode, Consent, Data Ownership |
| "AI forgot what I said" | Memory (scoped/global/ephemeral) |
By AI Product Type
| Product Type | Essential Patterns | Nice-to-Have |
|---|
| Chat assistant | Open Input, Suggestions, Follow-ups, Memory, Disclosure | Gallery, Voice & Tone, Branches |
| Code copilot | Inline Action, Stream of Thought, Controls, Citations | Action Plan, Draft Mode |
| Image generator | Gallery, Parameters, Variations, Inpainting, Preset Styles | Draft Mode, Randomize |
| Document AI | Attachments, Citations, Caveat, Disclosure, Summary | Transform, Expand, Follow-ups |
| AI agent | Action Plan, Controls, Verification, Stream of Thought, Cost Estimates | Memory, Consent |
| Voice assistant | Voice Avatar, Personality, Controls, Disclosure | Memory, Consent |
| Enterprise analytics | Citations, Connectors, Filters, Modes, Disclosure | Action Plan, Memory |
Trust Level Decision
High-stakes domain (healthcare, finance, legal)?
YES -> CRITICAL: Citations + Verification + Disclosure + Caveat + Audit
NO -> AI output mixed with human content?
YES -> HIGH: Disclosure + Citations + Caveat
NO -> Could AI output cause harm if wrong?
YES -> MEDIUM: Caveat + Citations (optional)
NO -> LOW: Minimal caveat, focus on UX quality
The Six Pattern Categories
1. Wayfinders — Help users construct their first prompt
Gallery, Suggestions, Templates, Follow-ups, Initial CTA, Nudges, Prompt Details, Randomize
2. Prompt Actions — Actions users direct AI to complete
Open Input, Inline Action, Chained Action, Regenerate, Transform, Restyle, Expand, Summary, Synthesis, Describe, Auto-fill, Restructure, Madlibs, Inpainting
3. Tuners — Adjust context and settings to refine prompts
Attachments, Connectors, Parameters, Model Management, Modes, Filters, Prompt Enhancer, Preset Styles, Saved Styles, Voice and Tone
4. Governors — Human-in-the-loop oversight and agency
Action Plan, Stream of Thought, Controls, Draft Mode, Branches, Variations, Citations, References, Verification, Memory, Cost Estimates, Sample Response, Shared Vision
5. Trust Builders — Confidence in AI ethics and accuracy
Disclosure, Caveat, Consent, Data Ownership, Watermark, Footprints, Incognito Mode
6. Identifiers — Distinct AI qualities at brand/model level
Avatar, Personality, Name, Color, Iconography
CRITICAL Gotchas
| Rule | Why |
|---|
| NEVER use photorealistic avatars unless AI matches that capability | Sets unrealistic expectations, erodes trust |
| ALWAYS show Stream of Thought for tasks > 5 seconds | Users abandon when they can't see progress |
| NEVER let Memory be a black box | Users must see, edit, and delete what AI remembers |
| ALWAYS offer Controls (at minimum: stop) during generation | Users need escape hatches |
| NEVER rely solely on Caveats for safety | Caveat blindness is real; design the system to be safe |
| ALWAYS distinguish AI content from human content in blended UIs | Users may unknowingly present AI work as their own |
| NEVER overwrite user work without Verification | Accidental overwrites destroy trust instantly |
Related Skills
Support
uiux-designer - AI-specific interaction pattern selection and designkaizen-specialist - AI agent capabilities informing UX decisionsreact-specialist - Implementation of AI interaction patterns
