Progressive disclosure in AI interfaces

Progressive disclosure shows information and controls gradually based on what users need at the moment, rather than overwhelming them with everything at once. With AI features, this is especially important since they can be complex and unfamiliar to many users. For example, Bing's AI chat feature first introduces itself simply: "Hi, I'm Bing. Your AI-powered copilot for the web." This gives users just enough information to understand what the feature does without technical details about how it works. As users engage with the system, it reveals additional options like conversation styles and suggested starter questions. These details would be overwhelming if presented all at once to a new user, but make sense once they understand the basic concept.

Good progressive disclosure creates layers of information and controls: essential functions are immediately visible, while advanced options remain available but aren't distracting. This principle applies to both explaining how AI works and controlling its behavior. The goal is to create a natural learning path that matches the user's growing understanding with appropriately timed information. This approach helps newcomers get started quickly while still supporting power users who eventually want more control and understanding of the system.