A beta tester told me my AI's 'helpful' suggestions were actually distracting

They said, 'It feels like a coworker constantly tapping my shoulder.' I cut the suggestion frequency by 60% and let users set their own notification schedule. Has anyone else had to dial back a feature that was technically working but just too much?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason.paige1mo agoTop Commenter

That "tapping my shoulder" feeling is why I turned off most app notifications years ago.

nancy2751mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly, that shoulder tap feeling is the worst. It's like your app went from being a helpful tool to that one overly eager intern who needs constant praise. Good on you for dialing it back. Sometimes a feature can work perfectly and still be super annoying. Letting users control the schedule was the right call, because what's helpful to one person is just noise to another.

david82113d ago

Tbh, this whole thing reminds me of how my neighbor's Ring camera goes off every time a leaf blows past. It's not just apps now, it's everything designed to grab your attention whether you asked for it or not. I've noticed even my damn coffee maker has a notification now, like "Your coffee is done!" Okay, I can smell that, thanks. The shoulder tap feeling is just the digital version of someone yelling your name across a crowded room when you're already busy. We're building a world where nothing can just sit quietly and do its job. Glad you're pushing back on that, because silence is becoming a luxury.