Flag

We stand with Ukraine and our team members from Ukraine. Here are ways you can help

Get exclusive access to thought-provoking articles, bonus podcast content, and cutting-edge whitepapers. Become a member of the UX Magazine community today!

Home ›› Artificial Intelligence ›› In the Garden of Hyperautomation

Member-only story

In the Garden of Hyperautomation

by Henry Comes-Pritchett
25 min read
Share this post on
Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print

Save

AI Tale of Two Topias

An odyssey exploring two possible outcomes for civilization as conversational AI takes hold—one brimming with the bright possibilities of user-controlled data, the other, decidedly dystopian.

Whether you’re hip to it or not, conversational AI—which is really the sequencing of technologies like NLU/NLP, code-free programming, RPA, and machine learning inside of organizational ecosystems—has already begun reshaping the world at large. Unsurprisingly, we’re seeing this primarily in business settings. Lemonade, a tech- and user-centric insurance company is upending its industry by providing customers with a rewarding experience buying insurance that’s facilitated by Maya, an intelligent digital worker described as “utterly charming” that can quickly connect dots and get customers insured. Maya is essentially an infinitely replicable agent that is always learning and doesn’t make the same mistake twice. Compare that with whatever it costs Allstate to retain more than 12,000 agents in the US and Canada who are likely using outdated legacy systems and it’s clear to see which way ROI is trending. 

Become a member to read the whole content.

Become a member
post authorHenry Comes-Pritchett

Henry Comes-Pritchett

Henry is a burgeoning philosopher and graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Linguistics and published an undergraduate thesis titled Risky Simulations. He hopes to illuminate the intersections between computational linguistics, metaphysics, and user experience to reveal things interesting about the world, ourselves, and the awakening era of conversational intelligence. Henry is driven by the mysteries of the mind and language and finds endless motivation in the strangeness.

Tweet
Share
Post
Share
Email
Print
Ideas In Brief
  • Henry Comes-Pritchett explores two possible futures of hyperautomation: a self-custodial utopia, and a data-driven dystopia.
  • Comes’-Pritchett takes readers on a journey inspired by a sneak peek at, Age of Invisible Machines, an upcoming book by celebrated tech leader and design pioneer, Robb Wilson.
  • A philosophical treatise starts an odyssey that spans the breadth of possible civilizations, meeting the average people that inhabit them and observing their trials and tribulations.
  • The reader is ultimately left to decide what state of affairs they would prefer, with a call to action inviting those willing to change the world to start doing the work now.

Related Articles

Find out how UX culture mistakes burnout for brilliance and what it’s really costing designers, researchers, and the products they build.

Article by Tushar Deshmukh
Acquired Savant Syndrome in Design: Skill, Obsession, or Exploitation?
  • The piece explores the metaphorical parallels between acquired savant syndrome and modern UX culture, arguing that the industry dangerously romanticizes obsession and burnout-driven brilliance over sustainable skill and calling on designers, researchers, and leaders to redefine excellence through ethical, well-paced, and mentally healthy creative practice.
Share:Acquired Savant Syndrome in Design: Skill, Obsession, or Exploitation?
6 min read

Examine the boundaries of engagement and envision the ideal ethical design.

Article by Tushar Deshmukh
Gamification or Manipulation? Understanding the Ethics of Engagement Loops
  • The article examines the fine line between ethical gamification and psychological manipulation in UX design, contrasting harmful engagement loops, such as Snapchat streaks and casino-style mobile games, with genuinely empowering examples like Duolingo and Khan Academy, while offering designers a framework of ethical questions to ensure their work elevates users rather than exploits them.
Share:Gamification or Manipulation? Understanding the Ethics of Engagement Loops
5 min read

Find out why one of AI’s greatest minds spent years dismissing language models and what finally changed his mind.

Article by Sebastian Mallaby
BOOK EXCERPT: The Infinity Machine
  • The excerpt traces Demis Hassabis‘s intellectual reversal on language and AI, from his founding belief that machines could never truly understand the world through words alone to his reluctant recognition that large language models have proven “unreasonably effective” at capturing the near-finite scope of human experience
Share:BOOK EXCERPT: The Infinity Machine
5 min read

Join the UX Magazine community!

Stay informed with exclusive content on the intersection of UX, AI agents, and agentic automation—essential reading for future-focused professionals.

Hello!

You're officially a member of the UX Magazine Community.
We're excited to have you with us!

Thank you!

To begin viewing member content, please verify your email.

Get Paid to Test AI Products

Earn an average of $100 per test by reviewing AI-first product experiences and sharing your feedback.

    Tell us about you. Enroll in the course.

      This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Check our privacy policy and