Episode 43: Introducing the UX/AI Cooperative - Shaping the Future of Design Together with Kevin Schumacher

The UX/AI Coop is a response to the rapid introduction of AI into the world of User Experience. It is similar to the UXPA or IXDA, but with the major difference being an invitation for developers, data scientists, and product managers to create a larger community. It’s a true cooperative in that we need everyone to contribute to form an open-source marketplace.

The UX/AI Cooperative being launched by Kevin Schumacher, Jonathan Kempf, and a few others who share the same vision and understand the same world need.

"Over the last couple of years there’s been a universal shift happening in the world of design, and most UX practitioners were too busy building prototypes and design systems in Figma to realize it was bleeding into our world. 

There’s a lot of work to do to build a non-profit organization, but we already have many people interested in helping build our initial infrastructure." - Co-founder, Kevin Schumacher

AI is just raw power and potential right now, but that potentials too tempting and too enabling, because it lacks any real control or rules. From our community comes the only practitioners of a craft that focuses entirely on how technology affects human beings, and keeps their humanity sacrosanct.  Being sensitive to human empathy couldn’t possibly be more important than it is at this moment. It’s a moment of reckoning for us. - UX/UI Cooperative

NOTE: As the podcast grows, I’m also looking for sponsors who believe in thoughtful design, emerging tech, and meaningful conversations. If that sounds like you or your brand, let’s talk!

Related interesting reads or resources

• Slack Groups:
  • aiforux.slack.com
• Communites: Some discord servers for creatives, but we are seeing a lack of cohesive community discussion around Design and AI.
  • Midjourney Discord Server: https://discord.com/invite/midjourney This server is a hub for exploring AI-generated visual arts, with members discussing techniques and tools for image creation. 
  • Kaiber Discord Community: https://discord.com/invite/kaiber This community supports users in creating unique images from textual descriptions, offering guidance and inspiration. 
  • OpenArt AI: https://openart.ai/create This platform is focused on AI-native social expression and entertainment, offering a new paradigm for art creation, according to their Discord server. 
  • Recraft Discord AI Bot: https://discord.com/invite/recraft This bot allows users to generate AI art in Discord by using descriptive text prompts to create original images, vector art, illustrations, and 3D graphics. 
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• Book(s):
  • uxGPT: Mastering AI Assistants for User Experience Designers and Product Managers - Patrick Neeman
  • Generative AI for Everyone: A Practical Guidebook - Preston McCauley
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• People:
  • Patrick Neeman 
  • Scott Dickie is an early tool creator using GPT like a madman
  • Kshitij Agrawal - founder of AIverse
  • Preston McCauley - Director of AI & Emerging Technologies, Professor at SMU
• Website
  • UX/AI Coop link:  https://uxaicoop.com
  • UX for AI: https://www.uxforai.com/ (Recommend)
  • AIverse: https://aiverse.design/ (largest library of AI-UX interactions, run by Kshitij Agrawal)
  • AI research in real time: https://epoch.ai/
• Kevin's tools:
  • Gemini Suite using Vertex for imagery
  • Hailou https://hailuoai.video/create
  • Magic Patterns https://www.magicpatterns.com/ (love it - exports to Figma)
  • UXPIlot - https://uxpilot.ai/ (More Figma goodness)
  • Subframe - https://www.subframe.com/ (big fan)
• Ontology  https://github.com/ozekik/awesome-ontology Ontology https://github.com/ozekik/awesome-ontology A curated list of ontology things. Your contribution is welcome!