UserExperience.org

Ryan Junejo is co-founder and CEO of Crashlabs.ai.

We talked about how his team stress-tests AI agents before they go rogue in the real world, the origin story behind Crash Labs, and why AI safety isn’t just a buzzword, it’s the seatbelt we all need. Ryan shared the surprisingly tricky challenges of testing AI, what it means for user experience, and why his lab might just be the insurance policy the future needs.

Parts

00:00 Introduction to Ryan Junejo and Crash Labs AI

03:09 The Origin Story of Crash Labs AI

05:56 Testing AI Agents: The Crash Test Lab Concept

09:10 Jailbreaking AI: Patterns and Techniques

12:05 AI Safety and Alignment Challenges

15:03 Integrating Crash Labs AI into Your Projects

17:50 Future of AI Testing and User Experience

Keywords

AI testing, Crash Labs AI, Ryan Junejo, AI safety, AI agents, user experience, machine learning, startup, technology, innovation

Leia is shaping a new frontier of AI & spiritual neuroscience—where emotional memory, gentle biosignals, & multimodal models meet the subconscious.
Her stealth-stage company explores how imagination stores truth, how technology can hold the nervous system, and how healing can be quietly designed into engineering itself.
Ranked in the top 0.004% globally, she studies CS & Economics at UC Berkeley—blending technical elegance with poetic intuition to craft systems that don’t just respond, but remember you.
She believes the future belongs to those who protect the part of them that still dreams.

_____

In this episode, we explored how AI is being used in mental health and therapy, from supporting emotional healing to helping users reconnect with their inner child. We discussed the role of crying, nostalgia, and introspection in healing, as well as the challenges of designing emotionally intelligent AI. Consciousness, free will, and the future of AI-driven therapy also came up, blending philosophy, UX, and innovative mental health solutions.

Parts

00:00 Understanding the Inner Child

06:29 Healing Through Emotion and Crying

08:52 The Role of AI in Mental Health

11:14 Navigating Trauma and User Experience

13:53 The Intersection of Spirituality and Technology

16:27 The Importance of Emotional Expression

18:54 AI as a Tool for Introspection

21:15 Building Trust in AI Therapy

23:40 The Future of Mental Health Solutions

On May 9th, I gave a talk at the UXPA Conference in Boston with Stew Smith about how AI can support accessibility rather than deepen existing gaps.

We explored the current state of assistive tech, the ethical challenges of designing with AI, and why involving users in the process isn’t optional... it’s essential.

Key Takeaways

1. Designing for permanent disabilities benefits everyone.

2. Regulations like the EU AI Act aim to improve accessibility standards.

3. Ethical AI design requires user involvement and transparency.

Parts

00:00 Introduction to Accessibility and AI

01:36 Understanding Digital Accessibility

03:54 The Spectrum of Disability

06:21 AI Overview and Its Historical Context

09:02 Current State of AI and Accessibility

11:41 Regulations and Guidelines for Accessibility

14:18 Ethical Principles in AI Design

16:27 Challenges and Opportunities in AI for Accessibility

18:56 Future of Assistive Technology

21:26 Community Engagement and Outreach

24:11 Conclusion and Q&A

As AI models from Google and OpenAI start winning math competitions, the pressure on creative professionals is real. How do you stay relevant when the ground beneath your industry is shifting?

In this special UXPA Boston talk, I explore how AI is reshaping the design landscape and what you can do about it.

Joined by David Williamson, the session covers:

• 📈 The evolution of AI: from ELIZA to GPT-4 and beyond

• ⚠️ What companies like Shopify are demanding from designers now

• 🧰 The best AI tools to enhance UX research and workflows

• 🧠 Why soft skills still matter—and how to build future-proof ones

• ✍️ How to stand out on job boards using AI-enhanced applications

Plus: a live Q&A on accessibility, ethics, tooling, and how to navigate corporate limitations around AI.

Kyle Soucy is the Founding Principal of UsableInterface.com.

In the second part of our conversation, I asked Kyle about the role of AI in UX research, especially when it comes to creating journey maps and personas. She shared key takeaways from her recent talk at the UXPA conference, where she emphasized that AI should be seen as a tool to enhance—not replace—human insight. We also explored projective techniques, which Kyle uses to surface deeper user needs and emotions during research. She explained why these methods are so powerful and gave examples of how they can lead to richer insights. Finally, Kyle opened up about her current journey writing a book on projective techniques, and why she’s focused on making the content practical and actionable for UX professionals.

________

For more about UX, check out UserExperience.org!

Kyle Soucy is the Founding Principal of UsableInterface.com, a UX research consultancy specializing in qualitative user research and usability testing for major clients like Comcast, HP, and Pfizer. With over 25 years of experience, she has helped design intuitive interfaces for a wide range of products. Kyle has held leadership roles in UX communities, including founding the NH UXPA and chairing PhillyCHI, and is currently the Career Center Lead for the IA Conference. She is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer, with recordings of her talks available on Woman Talk Design. Kyle also hosts The UX Consultants Lounge podcast, a space for consultants to connect and share insights.

In the first part of our conversation, we talked about Kyle’s journey into UX research, including her early career path and the challenges she faced along the way. She reflected on how she found her footing in the field and what drew her to qualitative research and usability testing. We then explored her transition from working in corporate environments to starting her own consulting practice. Kyle shared valuable insights from founding Usable Interface, including the realities of consulting work and client relationships. We also touched on her deep involvement in the UX community and why she believes networking and mentorship are essential for professional growth.

Chapters

00:00 Intro

02:42 Kyle's Journey into UX Research

06:00 Reflections on Career Path and Early Challenges

12:59 Transitioning from Corporate to Consulting

18:17 Building Usable Interface and Consulting Insights

27:08 Community Involvement and the Importance of Networking

Scott is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 32 years of experience leading marketing for both B2B and consumer companies, contributing to five successful exits, including four acquisitions and one IPO. He also teaches at UMass and Babson College and is the co-author of The Next CMO, which has over 40,000 copies in circulation.

In the 2nd part of our conversation, Scott and I discussed how AI is reshaping human decision-making, disrupting the workforce, and raising questions about purpose in an automated future. We explored the ethical and energy challenges of AI, as well as the evolving role of marketing and the importance of understanding user needs in product design.

Mic drop quote: "A human without purpose is a scary person."

Scott is a senior executive and entrepreneur with 32 years of experience leading marketing for both B2B and consumer companies, contributing to five successful exits, including four acquisitions and one IPO. He also teaches at UMass and Babson College and is the co-author of The Next CMO, which has over 40,000 copies in circulation.

In this episode, Scott Todaro shared insights on marketing, entrepreneurship, and AI, reflecting on career lessons, the evolving industry, and the importance of vision and people. He also discussed AI’s impact on jobs and offered advice for those starting their careers.

• Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Scott Todaro and His Journey
• 03:25 Reflections on Early Career and Market Challenges
• 06:24 The Evolution of Marketing Over the Years
• 08:51 Navigating AI in Marketing
• 11:38 Lessons from Successes and Failures
• 14:31 Vision, Strategy, and Execution in Business
• 17:14 The Importance of Flexibility in Business
• 19:57 Experiences with Steve Jobs and Leadership Insights
• 22:49 The Role of AI in Future Job Markets

__________

For a free daily email with curated podcast picks, check out podcast.today!

Special thanks to Avi Joy for connecting Scott and I :)

Smit Desai is a conversational AI researcher and Assistant Professor at Northeastern University. Together with Clark Ohlenbusch (a fellow student I met at Umass Boston), we discussed the nuances of conversational interfaces, particularly focusing on voice technology. Smit shared insights from his research on how users interact with voice interfaces, emphasizing the differences between graphical and voice interfaces, the phenomenon of anthropomorphism, and the implications of creating an illusion of agency in AI. The conversation also touched on the emotional bonds users form with technology and the potential risks associated with trusting these systems too much. The episode concludes with reflections on the future of human-machine interaction and the importance of being mindful of the information shared with technology.

You can find out more about Smit and his work here: smitdesai.net

Main takeaways:

1. Understanding user mental models is crucial for interface design.
2. The illusion of agency in AI is a significant design choice.
3. There are significant ethical considerations in how we design and market AI.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Conversational Interfaces

02:44 Understanding User Experience in Voice Interfaces

10:04 Anthropomorphism in Human-Machine Interaction

17:36 Ethical Considerations in AI and User Trust

This is the 2nd part of my conversation with Cas, a UX professional with over a decade of experience in FinTech. We talked about mentoring, team dynamics, and project methodologies, and Cas shared insights on defending UX’s value, AI’s role in design, and its future impact on the job market.

Key takeaways:

1. AI can assist in automating tedious tasks but needs oversight.
2. Defending the value of UX requires understanding stakeholder goals.
3. Continuous learning about AI is essential for professionals in tech.

You can connect with Cas Cain via email [email protected] and her website ⁠cascain.io⁠ :)

__________

If you liked this episode, please leave a review and share it with your friends, family, and network.

I'd love to hear what you thought, send an email to [email protected].

For more, check out userexperience.org!