#126 Synthetic Users in UX Research: Hype, Reality, and the Future of Design

#126 Synthetic Users in UX Research: Hype, Reality, and the Future of Design

20:47 Oct 2, 2025
About this episode
Curious to hear your thoughts .Please share them here: LinkedinIn this episode of Future of UX, we dive into one of the most controversial topics in design right now: synthetic users.These AI-generated “users” promise fast, cheap, scalable insights — but can they really replace talking to real people? I’ll walk you through:What synthetic users actually are and how they’re createdThe tools and platforms already being used in UX researchA real-world example comparing synthetic vs. real user interviewsBenefits like speed, inclusivity, and early idea testingThe risks: shallow answers, bias, lack of emotional depth, and ethical concernsWhat the future holds for synthetic users and how designers should approach themWhether you’re curious, skeptical, or somewhere in between, this episode will give you the full picture. Spoiler: empathy can’t be simulated.Interesting resources:🔗 Linkedin from Julian Della Mattia🔗 Article about Synthetic User by NNNG 🔗 Paper abut Synthetic Users 🔗 Deep Dive into SyntheticUsers 👉 0€ AI mini Training for Designers 👈→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn 3 strategies to leverage gen AI as a designer in just 30 min⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AI for Designers: 5-week Bootcamp 💻→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for the ⁠waiting list⁠⁠⁠💌 Newsletter → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Weekly UX insights and updates: UX Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the
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