Designing progressive automation

Progressive automation introduces AI assistance gradually, starting with minimal features and expanding as users build comfort and trust. This approach respects user autonomy while helping them discover the full potential of your AI system.

Consider an email management system. It might begin by automatically filtering obvious spam. As users interact with their inbox, it offers to automatically sort emails into categories like Promotions, Social, and Updates. Once users are comfortable, they can enable smart filtering that learns from their reading patterns to highlight priority messages. Eventually, users might allow automatic filing of receipts, newsletters, or notifications into specific folders based on their preferences. Each automation level is optional and reversible.

The progression should feel natural and user-driven. Clear indicators show current automation levels and available upgrades. Users can easily dial automation up or down based on their needs. A busy day might call for more automation, while important projects warrant manual control.

Successful progressive automation remembers that trust builds slowly but breaks quickly. Each new level should demonstrate clear value before suggesting the next step. Users need easy ways to revert to previous levels without losing their work or settings.