Episode web page: https://bit.ly/3MWTjzQ

Episode description: 

In this forward-looking episode of Insights Unlocked, Mike McDowell returns to the mic to share what’s ahead for UserTesting in 2026—and it’s all about speed, scale, and smarter insights. Mike and host Nathan Isaacs dive into the latest developments in AI-powered research, from automated test creation and participant feedback to enhanced report generation and seamless integrations with tools like Figma.

As always, Mike brings a ton of energy and clarity to what these innovations mean not just for researchers, but for anyone trying to get closer to their customers. Whether you're a product manager, designer, or marketer, this episode will leave you inspired by what’s possible when AI meets human insight.

Key takeaways

AI-enhanced test creation: Just type what you want to learn, and AI builds the test plan for you—making customer feedback more accessible to non-researchers than ever.

New Figma plug-in: Beta users can now launch usability tests directly from Figma, without leaving the design environment.

Automated insight generation: From smart analysis to video summaries and report creation, AI is speeding up the time from question to answer.

Smarter screener tools: AI-powered fraud detection and screener guidance ensure better participant quality and more reliable feedback.

Customer empathy at scale: Mike emphasizes the power of embedding customer videos in tools like Jira, Confluence, and Figma to build buy-in and challenge internal assumptions.

Resources & links

Mike on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcdowell1/)

Nathan Isaacs on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanisaacs/)

Learn more about Insights Unlocked: https://www.usertesting.com/podcast