The Interface Layer: Where Design Commoditizes Tech

As value accrues to the interfaces, the ultimate winner in the age of abstraction (where everything is summoned and summarized for us) will be the designer (and companies that empower design).

Interface > Data > Models

While media still focuses on the “next best model” rat race, increasingly believe that the “interface” and “data” layers will further distinguish market leaders while the “models” layer becomes increasingly commoditized and pushed to the edge (becoming increasingly obvious as mobile chips get better and OSes g... See more

Interface > Data > Model: The “interface” and “data” layers will further distinguish market leaders while the “models” layer becomes increasingly commoditized and pushed to the edge. As a growing number of our everyday use-cases of powerful GenerativeAI models fall below the frontier of “the best models,” they will be enabled by cheaper commoditize... See more

The dominant school of thought when it comes to UI design in tech, at least that I’ve grown up with the past two decades, has centered around removing friction for users in accomplishing whatever it is they’re trying to do while delighting them in the process. The goal has been design that is elegant, in every sense of the word: intuitive, ingeniou... See more

I think there’s a very good chance design becomes more important than engineering (if it isn’t already). If code commoditizes, what’s left is art and experience.

I want us to collectively raise the bar for what we expect from our digital experiences. Life isn't just a series of problems to be solved but moments to be lived. As we find ourselves spending more and more of our time in the digital world—especially now—we should expect that world to inspire, surprise, and dare I say, even challenge us. We are lu... See more

In order for design to transform business, it must first transform itself. It must leave behind the language and mindset of engineering. Get past scalability and extensibility. Systems and components. Agility and usability. Usefulness and seamlessness. Efficiency and friction. Data and metrics. Patterns and code.