As workflows evolve into collaborations between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) agents, traditional enterprise software design based on forms, dashboards, and manual spreadsheets are being swept away.
We have moved from bouncing between disconnected tools to orchestrated systems – where AI agents carry context across workflows and canvases – and editors let humans steer the output. These are hybrid environments that blend conversational interfaces, visual workspaces, and agentic orchestration into a single coherent experience.
Agentic AI human experience design patterns include negotiation, interruption, and escalation where AI functions as a teammate, rather than a tool.
Conversations and interviews replace forms
No longer navigating screens or filling out static forms, we simply describe what we want to accomplish. Forms are now adaptive conversations that prefill known information and dynamically gather the rest. This transforms enterprise software from systems of record into systems of action.
AIs generate reports and dashboards
AI-first experience design (XD) is turning reporting and dashboarding around. Instead of people generating relevant data visualizations, AIs will.
The emphasis is on conversational experiences – asking questions and composing prompts rather than understanding workflow and building reports. Now we simply ask for the report or insight we need instead of spending hours building reports or dashboards.
Workflows become agentic AI collaborations
Simple workflows live in one system of record and connect people through a linear process like editing website content in a content management system, recording new information about a prospect in a customer relationship management program, or performing basic accounting functions in an enterprise resource planning system. More complex workflows are non-linear, involve multiple departments performing different responsibilities, and require integrating several systems of record like employee onboarding, quote-to-cash processes, and contract management.
Now all the underlying systems are API-enabled, have AI agents in place to perform basic functions, are integrated with Model Context Protocol servers, and have an AI orchestration platform to facilitate work. What was a workflow has become a collaboration between people and AI agents that can perform multiple steps through a single interface.
An AI-first XD replaces rigid, screen-driven workflows with intent-driven interaction, where we query the system, and AI agents orchestrate the underlying processes.
Agentic workflows are a coordinated teamwork, where AI agents execute multistep processes across systems, surface their reasoning, and escalate to humans when judgment is required – augmentation over replacement. Choosing the right interaction model at the right moment, grounded in strong human-centered design (HCD) discipline, transparency, and trust.
Moving from Feature-Driven Design to Intent-Driven Experiences
AI-first XD has moved beyond chatbots into embedded, ambient intelligence where AI becomes an invisible layer that anticipates customers’ needs and translates intent into action.
Moving from feature-driven design to intent-driven experiences, supported by strong data foundations, APIs, and governance, AI acts responsibly. The companies that are winning are treating AI not as a bolt-on assistant, but as a core experience layer that reduces friction, personalizes at scale, and builds trust through measurable value.
Developing AI experiences requires orchestrating work across multiple AI agents, both from the enterprise software providers and the XD developed systems with observability standards, automated AI agent testing, defined release-ready criteria, review of multi-agent frameworks, and orchestration platforms.
Just as platforms exist to coordinate human teams, AI demands a new orchestration layer: interfaces designed not to do the work, but to visualize, steer, and direct outcomes across multiple agents.
We’re only in the early stages of how people and AI agents will collaborate, so expect to see evolutions in platforms and capabilities. Looking to the future, expect that voice, augmented reality/virtual reality, and other physical AI will further transform how we develop AI-first XD.
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Van Tyne, Sean. The Art and Science of AI Agent Experience Design: Creating Meaningful Human-AI Interactions. SeanVanTyne.com. June 2025. https://www.seanvantyne.com/2025/06/01/the-art-and-science-of-ai-agent-experience-design-creating-meaningful-human-ai-interactions/
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