HAX Design Library

Interactive collection of the 18 Guidelines for Human-AI Interaction, with design patterns for applying them and examples.

Guideline 1

Guideline 1

Make clear what the system can do

Help the user understand what the AI system is capable of doing.
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A

Pattern 1A: Introductory blurb
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

Copilot in PowerPoint | 1A: Introductory blurb

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

Copilot in Word | 1A: Introductory blurb

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

D365 Marketing | 1A: Introductory blurb

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

Outlook | 1A: Introductory blurb and G17: Provide global controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

Semantic Scholar | 1A: Introductory blurb

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1A > Example

Microsoft Word | 1A: Introductory blurb

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1B

Pattern 1B: Use explanation (G11) patterns
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1B > Example

Viva Learning | 1B: Use explanation (G11) patterns

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1B > Example

Amazon | 1B: Use explanation (G11) patterns

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1B > Example

Gmail | 1B: Use explanation (G11) patterns

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C

Pattern 1C: Expose system controls
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C > Example

Copilot in PowerPoint | 1C: Expose system controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C > Example

Viva Topics | 1C: Expose system controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C > Example

Viva Topics | 1C: Expose system controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C > Example

Google Photos | 1C: Expose system controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1C > Example

Bing Maps | 1C: Expose system controls

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D

Pattern 1D: Demonstrate possible system inputs
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D > Example

M365 Chat | 1D: Make clear what the system can do

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D > Example

Copilot in PowerPoint | 1D: Demonstrate possible system inputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D > Example

Business Chat | 1D: Demonstrate possible system inputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D > Example

Google Maps | 1D: Demonstrate possible system inputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1D > Example

Bing | 1D: Demonstrate possible system inputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1E

Pattern 1E: Show a set of system outputs
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1E > Example

Word Online | 1E: Show a set of system outputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1E > Example

Google Maps | 1E: Show a set of system outputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Pattern 1E > Example

PowerPoint | 1E: Show a set of system outputs

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Example

Notion | G1: Make clear what the system can do

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Example

Business Chat | G1: Make clear what the system can do

card example thumbnail
Guideline 1 > Example

Copilot in Excel | G1: Make clear what the system can do

card example thumbnail

Guideline 3

Guideline 3

Time services based on context

Time when to act or interrupt based on the user’s current task and environment.

Guideline 7

Guideline 7

Support efficient invocation

Make it easy to invoke or request the AI system’s services when needed.
Guideline 7 > Example

Copilot in Word | G7: Support efficient invocation

card example thumbnail
Guideline 7 > Example

Copilot in Outlook | G7: Support efficient invocation

card example thumbnail
Guideline 7 > Example

Excel Flash Fill | G7: Support efficient invocation

card example thumbnail
Guideline 7 > Example

PowerPoint | G7: Support efficient invocation

card example thumbnail
Guideline 7 > Example

Alpha XR | G7: Support efficient invocation

card example thumbnail

Guideline 10

Guideline 10

Scope services when in doubt

Engage in disambiguation or gracefully degrade the AI system’s services when uncertain about a user’s goals.
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10A

Pattern 10A: Disambiguate before acting
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10A > Example

Copilot in Word | 10A: Disambiguate before acting

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10A > Example

Github Copilot | 10A: Disambiguate before acting

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10A > Example

iPhone | 10A: Disambiguate before acting

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10A > Example

Google Search | 10A: Disambiguate before acting

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10B

Pattern 10B: Avoid cold starts by eliciting user preferences
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10B > Example

Apple Music | 10B: Avoid cold starts by eliciting user preferences

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10B > Example

Microsoft News | 10B: Avoid cold starts by eliciting user preferences

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10C

Pattern 10C: Fall back to other strategies
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10C > Example

Box Skills | 10C: Fall back to other strategies

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Pattern 10C > Example

Kommunicate chatbot | 10C: Fall back to other strategies

card example thumbnail
Guideline 10 > Example

Copilot in PowerPoint | G10: Scope services when in doubt

card example thumbnail

Guideline 12

Guideline 12

Remember recent interactions

Maintain short-term memory and allow the user to make efficient references to that memory.

Guideline 14

Guideline 14

Update and adapt cautiously

Limit disruptive changes when updating and adapting the AI system’s behaviors.
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14A

Pattern 14A: Comprehensive updates
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14A > Example

YouTube | 14A: Comprehensive updates

card example thumbnail
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14A > Example

Facebook | 14A: Comprehensive updates

card example thumbnail
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14B

Pattern 14B: Immediate, partial, non-disruptive updates
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14B > Example

Google Search | 14B: Immediate, partial, non-disruptive updates

card example thumbnail
Guideline 14 > Pattern 14B > Example

Spotify | 14B: Immediate, partial, non-disruptive updates

card example thumbnail