AI tools are rapidly changing how UX research is planned, conducted, and shared. From recruitment and transcription to thematic analysis, insight generation, and stakeholder communication, researchers are experimenting with new workflows that promise greater speed and scale. But alongside these opportunities come important questions about rigor, bias, ethics, trust, and the evolving role of human judgment in research.

This panel brings together UX researchers, research leaders, and AI practitioners to explore how AI is actually being used in day-to-day UX research work today, beyond the hype.

Panelists will discuss:
– Which research activities AI genuinely improves
– Where automation introduces risk or weakens research quality
– How teams are balancing efficiency with rigor
– Emerging best practices for AI-assisted synthesis and analysis
– How AI is changing expectations for research turnaround and staffing
– What new skills UX researchers need to stay effective and credible

Rather than focusing on futuristic speculation, this session emphasizes practical workflows, lessons learned, and honest conversations about what works, what doesn’t, and where human researchers remain irreplaceable.

Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for integrating AI into their research practice responsibly, improving operational efficiency without sacrificing insight quality or participant empathy.