Reclaiming Autonomy: designing AI-enhanced work tools that empower users

In workplaces today, AI-powered software promises to boost efficiency, but it's changing how we interact with our tools and what we produce. Through real-world examples of AI already being used in professional environments, this talk explores how these new technologies can unintentionally reduce worker control and blur lines of responsibility. When professionals start depending on AI-generated content without clear guidelines about who's accountable for what, how does this affect their sense of ownership and professional satisfaction?

Good AI design needs to go beyond just making things work well technically—we need to think ahead and include diverse perspectives in the design process. This session offers practical design approaches for keeping users in control of AI-enhanced systems, including making AI operations more transparent, ensuring users can override automated decisions, and supporting teamwork. As designers, we play a key role in bringing different stakeholders together to agree on acceptable AI integration, helping shape what meaningful work looks like as AI becomes more prevalent in our professional lives.