Contextual understanding

Modern AI systems now go beyond simple prediction. They can understand context better, which makes their responses more accurate and useful. Google Maps doesn't just calculate the fastest route but considers real-time traffic conditions, your typical driving speed, and even frequent destinations when suggesting navigation options. Weather apps like AccuWeather go beyond basic forecasts by combining weather data with your location, past activities, and calendar events to recommend whether to bring an umbrella or reschedule outdoor plans.^[1]

But this contextual ability has limits. AI builds rough versions of context through correlation, not causation. This means it can predict likely situations but does not actually “understand” them. For designers, the task is to decide which context signals truly improve the experience and to make it clear to users when the system may not be reliable.