The UX writing process in the age of AI
Internal share. UX writing team.

The UX writing process
in the age of AI.

Sixteen tools, four phases, three modes. This is the map for how we work alongside AI: what it runs, what it drafts, and what we keep for ourselves.

Sixteen tools. Three modes for AI.
Living document · open for comments
Automate
Augment
Act alone
The UX writing process in the age of AI
02 · The framework
Three ways AI shows up in our work

Every tool in the process belongs
to one of three modes.

We don't ask "should AI do this?" once. We ask it sixteen times. The answer determines who's driving.

01
Automate
AI does it

AI runs the task end-to-end. A human confirms the result before it goes anywhere.

Intake summary Audit: internal Fit and finish Localization notes
02
Augment
AI assists, human decides

AI drafts, summarizes, or proposes options. The writer keeps final judgment over taste, risk, and product fit.

Audit: competitive Research synthesis Conversation prototype Content modeling Terminology Messaging wireframes Content brief Content explorations Inclusivity checks
03
Act alone
Human only

AI sits this one out. The judgment, accountability, or taste isn't something we delegate.

Concept mapping Critique and iteration Strings and rationale
The UX writing process in the age of AI
03 · The whole map
All sixteen tools, one view

Every tool in the process,
plotted across phase and mode.

Read it like a subway map. Lanes are AI modes; stations are tools; the x-axis is the phase of the work. Augment carries most of the line. Automate does the bookends, and Act alone shows up where taste matters.

The UX writing process in the age of AI
04 · Phase 01 of 04
Phase 01

Discovery.

Understand the problem space. Pull in PRDs, tickets, research, and competitors so the writing has the right scaffold before we name anything.

2 Automate
2 Augment
1 Act alone
In
Automate

Intake summary

A buildup of context from PRDs, Jira tickets, and design notes that frames the problem for human and AI partners.

Output PDF report, project in AI tool
Ac
Augment

Audit: competitive

A structured review of peer/competitor UX content patterns to understand norms, opportunities, and differentiation.

Output Table, images
Ai
Automate

Audit: internal

Inventory and qualitative review of your own product content to find gaps, inconsistencies, and standardization opportunities.

Output Table, images
Rs
Augment

Research synthesis

A review of user language from research notes, clustering phrases into themes that surface real-world terminology.

Output Word cloud, PDF report
Cm
Act alone

Concept mapping

Visually mapping concepts and their relationships to clarify domains and inform taxonomy decisions.

Output Diagram
The UX writing process in the age of AI
05 · Phase 02 of 04
Phase 02

Definition.

Define structure, terms, and intent. Draft the patterns that the strings will eventually fill. Every tool here is Augment: AI drafts; we decide.

4 Augment
Cp
Augment

Conversation prototype

A scripted prototype that simulates how the product talks to the user, testing comprehension, tone, and risk points before UI exists.

Output Script/narrative
Mo
Augment

Content modeling

Defining the structure, attributes, and relationships of content types so content is consistent and reusable across surfaces.

Output Diagram
Te
Augment

Terminology

A controlled vocabulary of preferred terms, definitions, and usage rules to reduce ambiguity and improve consistency across UI.

Output Table
Mw
Augment

Messaging wireframes

Wireframes annotated with intended messages, hierarchy, and tone, validating content strategy before final UI copy.

Output Flowchart
The UX writing process in the age of AI
06 · Phase 03 of 04
Phase 03

Solution.

Draft, explore, and converge on copy. AI helps generate variants, but the convergence (what's right for the product, the brand, the legal team) stays human.

2 Augment
1 Act alone
Cb
Augment

Content brief

A structured document outlining the goals, requirements, and strategy for creating content for an experience.

Output Written document
Ex
Augment

Content explorations

Rapid exploration of copy options (variants, constraints, edge cases) to find the best strings and pattern-fit within components.

Output Table or Figma
Cr
Act alone

Critique and iteration

Collecting feedback (design, legal, brand, localization, accessibility) and iterating copy with traceability and implementation notes.

Output Collaborative review
The UX writing process in the age of AI
07 · Phase 04 of 04
Phase 04

Delivery.

Ship, document, and govern. Automation does the verification heavy lifting; humans own the rationale that will outlast any one project.

2 Automate
1 Augment
1 Act alone
Sr
Act alone

Strings and rationale

A short, explicit record of why a content decision was made (tradeoffs, evidence, constraints) so future contributors can maintain consistency.

Output Figma cards
Ff
Automate

Fit and finish

Making sure content in the experience matches what was designed, by comparing approved strings against implemented UI and flagging differences.

Status Skill spec in progress
Lo
Automate

Localization notes

Specific, contextual instructions for translators and developers so content is accurately adapted for another market, culture, or language.

Output Table with potential issues
Ic
Augment

Inclusivity checks

Ensuring written content is welcoming, respectful, and accessible, avoiding language that marginalizes, stereotypes, or excludes.

Output Table with potential issues
The UX writing process in the age of AI
08 · By the numbers
Where AI shows up most

Sixteen tools.
Three roles for AI.

A reality check
81%

of our process is something AI either runs or drafts. But the moments that decide whether the work is good (concept mapping, critique, the final string call) are still ours.

Automate
AI runs the task end-to-end
04
Augment
AI drafts, the writer decides
09
Act alone
AI stays out of it
03
The UX writing process in the age of AI
09 · Next
Use it · improve it · break it

This is a living map.
Pick the view that works for the moment.

Same content, three formats. One for skimming, one for sharing, one for sitting down with. If something is wrong, or the mode for a tool no longer feels right, tell the team.

The UX writing process in the age of AI