Flag

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

Become a member

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

Home ›› Archives for Saul Wyner

Saul Wyner

Saul Wyner is 39, a Director of Research, married father of 2, and a 14-year quant/qual UXR, with experience in entertainment, search, cybersecurity, and children’s services, which is another way of saying he gets around. Ex-Google, Microsoft, AT&T, etc, etc. He fled UCLA and the University of Michigan (and all of academia) with a focus on Cognitive Science, Decision Making, and HCI. He also teaches 15th-century German longsword and wrestling, if you’re interested (classes in Hertzelia on Mondays and Thursdays). He resides in Pardes Hannah, Israel, a hippie and art colony that has been described as “the alternative sex capital of Israel”, which means he gets into vaccine arguments on WhatsApp groups regularly.

Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking

  • AI Ethics, AI in UX, Artificial Intelligence, ChatGPT, Design Thinking, Design Tools and Software, Human-Centered Design, LLM, Research Methods and Techniques, UX Research

Mashed potatoes as a lifestyle brand? When AI starts generating user personas for absurd products — and we start taking them seriously — it’s time to ask if we’ve all lost the plot. This sharp, irreverent critique exposes the real risks of using LLMs as synthetic users in UX research.

Article by Saul Wyner
IDEAS IN BRIEF
Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking
  • The article explores the growing use of AI-generated personas in UX research and why it’s often a shortcut with serious flaws.
  • It introduces critiques that LLMs are trained to mimic structure, not judgment. When researchers use AI as a stand-in for real users, they risk mistaking coherence for credibility and fantasy for data.
  • The piece argues that AI tools in UX should be assistants, not oracles. Trusting “synthetic users” or AI-conjured feedback risks replacing real insights with confident nonsense.
Read Article →
Share
Share:Have SpudGun, Will Travel: How AI’s Agreeableness Risks Undermining UX Thinking
22 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.

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

    Accept policy