More AI, More UXR: An Economic Case for Optimism

​AI advancements continue to reshape product, design and research teams. Alongside the excitement, everyone’s asking “what happens to our roles as AI becomes more capable?”

Join Caleb Furlough, PhD, a UX Research Director at Truist, for a conversation exploring why the future of UX in an AI-driven world might be far more optimistic than anxious. Drawing from established economic principles and historical examples, Caleb will explore why we can be optimistic AI’s rise is expanding, not erasing, the space for human research expertise.

Together, we’ll explore:

• ​Comparative Advantage and O-ring Theory: What these economic models reveal about the enduring value of human UX work.

• ​Jevons Paradox and Elastic Demand: How AI-driven efficiency can increase demand for UX research rather than reduce it

• ​Historical Patterns of Transformation: Lessons from manufacturing, banking, agriculture, and accounting that show how technology reshapes rather than replaces human work

• ​The Economic Future of UX: How to position yourself and your team where human value compounds as AI capabilities scale
  You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to navigate this evolution with confidence and optimism.