The encounter between Design and Artificial Intelligence: how do we frame new approaches?

Artificial Intelligence is promising to change people’s lives, either by replacing human activities or by augmenting human capacities. Affecting society, AI will also help rethink notions and characteristics of what we design; however, as developments have just begun, potentialities and risks are not straightforward: what will the characteristics and logic of design be in an era in which learning systems will be the center of attention? The paper frames this question by offering a critical discussion about the role and logic of design when AI is “the material” of the project. It explores the issue drawing on AI-Cities, an initiative that has designed digital services applying AI in three public administrations. The paper proposes two main changes: the need to design constantly evolving, ill-defined interactive systems both in terms of problem and solution with AI as one of the users; the need for undisciplined design approaches to develop AI-based design objects.