How DeepSeek R1 is redefining AI chatbot UX?
Thinking out loud: transforming user trust & engagement
What’s happening?
DeepSeek introduced a novel UX that showcases how its AI reasoned through problems using logic that resembles human logic.
Following DeepSeek's success, Google and OpenAI have now made similar adjustments, reinforcing this trend.
Image credit: digestible UXWhy it matters
1. From black box to open book
For years, AI chatbots have been black boxes, offering answers with limited transparency into their reasoning process. DeepSeek’s 'thinking out loud' feature flips this model by making AI’s real-time thought process visible and understandable.
2. AI's new era of transparency
This move toward transparency is already being adopted by major AI companies. By making AI reasoning more trustworthy and better aligned with human intentions, it’s transforming the field.
Why this design works
1. Building trust through transparency
Users are often skeptical about AI-generated results, as they know hallucinations happen.
Transparency allows users to identify where errors occur, making it easier to correct them.
Users feel more confident in verifying and correcting errors, which increases trust.
2. Enhancing user engagement and involvement
Users don’t just want answers—they want to understand them.
Watching AI’s thought process keeps users engaged, and makes them active participants in problem-solving.
When users feel mentally engaged in an interaction, retention and satisfaction improve.
3. Leveraging feedback for improvement
User feedback is crucial for model improvement.
More detailed feedback (e.g., “Step 3 doesn’t make sense”) from users helps fine-tune the model rather than just “good” or “bad” ratings.
Why Now?
Growing concerns about AI bias, hallucinations, and safety make transparency critical.
The AI industry is racing to gain user trust, and explainable AI is a major competitive advantage.
Governments and regulators are pushing for AI accountability, making this feature not just a UX improvement but also a compliance strategy.
Worth thinking about
When you’re dealing with AI products: how can you make your product more explainable?