UX Patterns for AI Systems

AI interfaces have begun developing their own design language, distinct from traditional software. Some patterns are becoming standard: showing AI-generated content in a visually distinct way (different background colour, a small icon), providing thumbs up/down feedback mechanisms, offering "regenerate" buttons that acknowledge non-determinism, and using streaming output that shows results appearing in real time rather than waiting for a complete response. Other patterns are still evolving: how to present multiple alternative outputs, how to indicate confidence without overwhelming users with numbers, how to let users refine requests iteratively. The best AI UX patterns share a common philosophy - they keep the user in control and informed. They make it clear what's AI-generated versus human-created. They provide escape hatches when the AI isn't helping. They avoid the trap of making the AI feel like a black box that you either accept or reject wholesale. Patterns that obscure the AI's role or make it difficult to intervene tend to produce short-term convenience at the cost of long-term trust and effectiveness.