The intersection of AI and digital experience design is becoming increasingly complex and fascinating, especially as AI agents grow in popularity and bots are now talking to bots. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Astral user Josh Goldblum, the visionary founder and CEO of Bluecadet, an interactive agency known for creating award-winning digital experiences for cultural giants like the Smithsonian and MoMA.

Josh shared his insights on the future of experience design, the potential impact of AI on creative work, and how digital agencies can adapt to this new frontier.

Listen to the full episode to dive deeper into Josh’s insights here: 

Key Topics:
00:00 - Introduction to Josh Goldblum and his work at Bluecadet
01:54 - AI's impact on web design and user experience
04:12 - The evolving role of creative agencies in an AI-driven world
06:15 - Leveraging AI to free up time for ambitious creative work
07:45 - The irreplaceable human touch in design and emotional connection
09:17 - AI as a tool for personal growth and emotional fitness
11:59 - Organizational approaches to AI transformation: fear vs. opportunity
13:56 - Creative people shaping protopian futures with AI
16:38 - Ethical concerns and societal impacts of AI adoption
18:35 - Bluecadet's strategies for staying ahead in a rapidly changing industry

As AI becomes more prevalent, are we moving towards two separate design paradigms — one optimized for AI and another for human experiences?

It's an interesting question. I've been experimenting with AI tools like Operator, and it's made me think about how AI interacts with websites differently than humans do. AI doesn't care about typography, color, or animation — it just wants the content. This realization has made me question whether we need all those design elements on web pages in the future, or if we should focus more on delivering clean, fast content.

That said, I don't think brand expression will disappear entirely. It might just shift to other platforms or areas. The key is to stay adaptable and embrace these technological shifts, just as we did when moving from Flash websites to other technologies years ago.

What kind of work do you think firms like Bluecadet will be designing in this new AI-driven world?

I believe we'll need to focus on the things AI can't readily do, such as being strong human interfaces with our clients and developing strategies. It might evolve into helping our clients ask the right questions from the right language models. There are so many problems in the world that need solving, so I think there will always be plenty of work for creative people.

People are saying prompt engineering is going to become one of the most important things. It’s  not about the ability to answer the question; it’s about being able to ask the right question. And frankly, as an agency, sometimes what we do is help our clients ask the right question from the right LLMs (Large Language Models).

That said, there are so many things that are broken in the world, I think there’s always going to be plenty of work for creative people.

Related: See how Astral customers are freeing up their brainspace with AI to focus on bigger picture strategy.

How do you see AI being leveraged in your work, and what aspects will still require a human touch? Do you think that this technology will free you up to do more creative, ambitious work? 

AI is already freeing us up to do more creative work. It's not just AI, but also no-code tools that allow small teams to build applications that would have been out of reach before. This technology will enable creators to level up their work across various fields, from filmmaking to software development.

As for the human touch, there are things humans can do that AI cannot. We can elicit a range of human emotions, provide comfort through physical presence, and genuinely care. Humans have unique affordances that AI won't be able to replicate anytime soon.

On the other hand, humans — despite having all these affordances to be able to connect with other humans — are not always very good at it. I think what's really interesting is how many people are using AI for therapy, and opening up to AI in a way that they won’t with their friends. A lot of people are asking really tough, human questions to the LLMs. They're really probing. 

So I actually hope that in some ways AI becomes a way for us to re-learn how to talk to each other — similar to how a treadmill teaches you how to run fast, I actually hope that some of this technology can be leveraged towards emotional fitness.

How are you evolving Bluecadet's approach to stay ahead of these changes?

We're focusing on several key areas:

1. Orienting towards strategy and ensuring we're part of big-picture conversations.

2. Embracing AI technologies in our client projects, such as using AI for collection searches in museum exhibits.

3. Maintaining a robust R&D practice to stay ahead of trends and keep our team's skills sharp.

4. Most importantly, cultivating creativity and curiosity within our organization. We need to be flexible and adaptable — like water — to navigate these changes successfully.

In conclusion, while AI is reshaping the landscape of experience design, there's still a crucial role for human creativity and strategic thinking. By staying curious, embracing new tools that free up your creative brainpower, and focusing on uniquely human skills, agencies like Bluecadet are well-positioned to thrive in this new era.