The author recounts a humorous experience of asking ChatGPT a straightforward question about the best temperature to cook bacon, only to receive an unexpectedly theatrical and elaborate response. This leads to a discussion about t...
About:
Elizabeth Laraki shares insights on designing for people through her Substack publication.
Website:
Specializations:
Interests:
Subscribe to RSS:
The author expresses frustration with Substack's paid subscription model, feeling it creates a negative experience for free subscribers while also burdening creators with the discomfort of asking for payment. Despite growing a sub...
The article discusses the evolution of user history in web browsers, particularly focusing on Google Chrome's approach to web history and its implications for AI chat history. It highlights how Chrome's initial vision of a complex...
The article discusses the evolution of text prompting in AI, comparing it to the early days of web development. It highlights the current challenges of AI text prompting, which still requires skill and knowledge, unlike the intuit...
An early Google Maps designer highlights the app's limitations in handling complex navigation requests and advocates for AI integration to better capture user intent.
5.6The "Meta" Interface
2026-03-02 • technology personalization chatbot user engagement ai
Conversational AI transforms user interaction by allowing real-time personalization, moving away from rigid settings to a more fluid, human-like conversation model.
The author shares their unique experience as a 'grass person' in the Super Bowl halftime show, highlighting the challenges and unexpected joys of the role.
The author reflects on the design choices made for Google Maps' My Maps feature, particularly the decision between 'draw mode' and 'drop + edit' for creating shapes. The author advocates for draw mode, emphasizing its intuitivenes...
The author recounts a frustrating experience with British Airways, highlighting the failures of their customer service during a travel disruption. The text argues for the potential of AI to improve customer service by providing a ...
Waymo vehicles exhibit aggressive driving in suburban areas, contrasting with their cautious behavior in San Francisco, highlighting the need for localization in autonomous driving.
A personal account of navigating a potential check fraud incident with State Farm, emphasizing the difficulties of verifying identities in today's scam-ridden environment.
4.7Reinventing the wheel
2025-07-16 • navigation technology maps electric vehicles rivian
The author shares their experience with the Rivian R1S electric vehicle, highlighting initial mechanical issues but overall satisfaction with its performance. They express concerns about Rivian's proprietary mapping software, whic...
Taking ownership of personal and professional goals is essential, as illustrated by Elizabeth Laraki's journey to the Sahara Desert and Lauren Adams Lenz's career insights.
4.4Holding Space.
2025-12-20 • mindfulness connection humanities presence ai
The post emphasizes the importance of being present for others in a fast-paced world, contrasting it with the relentless pursuit of efficiency through AI.
The post emphasizes the importance of thoughtful design in everyday objects, using the example of roasting sticks that enhance the experience of family gatherings around a fire pit. The author highlights how small design details, ...
The author reflects on the impact of being behind the camera during family moments and how it affects memories. After purchasing Meta RayBans for her husband, she discovers that these AI glasses revolutionize photography by allowi...
The author recounts their experience of getting a DEXA scan at a startup in Palo Alto, highlighting the awkwardness of the setting and the conversation with the staff about fitness and health. They reflect on the company's busines...
0How Google Maps caught the train
2025-06-05 • maps public transit gtfs
In 2005, Avichal Garg was frustrated with getting lost on the subway in New York City and decided to propose a product spec for Google Transit. He collaborated with a Maps engineer to create a vision for Google Maps that would pro...
0The Ghost in the Driver's Seat
2025-05-23 • waymo passenger experience
The author describes their first experience riding in a Waymo driverless car, expressing awe at the sense of privacy but also noting the limitations of the current design. They discuss the incremental nature of innovation and prop...
The roles of HCI and UI design are changing because AI and agents are allowing computers to understand human language, making the traditional human-computer interface obsolete. The burden of speaking computer is shifting to conver...
The text discusses the concept of lead user innovation, where users create solutions to their needs, and producers refine and scale those ideas. It provides examples of how products like Google Maps, Gmail, and Facebook Marketplac...
0The pixels that made YouTube
2025-04-04 • ui/ux design youtube branding
In 2006, YouTube faced a strategic crisis as most video views came from YouTube videos embedded on other sites, making YouTube virtually invisible. Co-founder Chad Hurley hired Ches Wajda to improve YouTube's visual design and bra...
The text discusses the issue of feedback UX and the concept of 'salamitaktik', which refers to asking for a whole salami one slice at a time. It compares the feedback UX of Backcountry and Uber, highlighting the importance of prio...
The text discusses the customization of Monopoly board game and how it strikes a balance between consistency and customization. It provides examples of different themed versions of Monopoly and emphasizes the importance of a solid...