"Photo by Rainaly Gonzalez: https://www.pexels.com/photo/post-apocalyptic-warrior-with-water-canister-29566658/ "User testing generates reports, not solutions." Somewhere along the way, that statement became the way many businesses perceive UX research. UX researchers have been among the victims of the AI-integrated future. From AI-based synthetic research offering "competition" (that's flawed) to widespread budget cuts, many UX researchers face challenges with justifying their value. But the core issue runs deeper than external threats. It stems from how user research itself has evolved."
"User research has become too formalized. The problem with Formalized UX Research UX research has, in many organizations, transformed into a siloed, overly formal process. Whether it's a siloed department that keeps insights to itself or third-party solutions like UserTesting.com readily available, the perception of UX research has shifted dramatically. We've gone from UX research being "scrappy interviews with real users" to "formal, expensive studies required for legitimacy." This formalization creates a cascade of problems."
User testing often produces reports rather than concrete product solutions. Many businesses now view UX research as a formal credential rather than a source of actionable change. UX researchers face pressure from AI-based synthetic research and budget cuts that make justifying value difficult. The deeper problem is the evolution of user research into rigid, siloed processes. Organizational silos and third-party testing platforms concentrate insights away from product teams. Research shifted from scrappy interviews with real users to formal, expensive studies treated as prerequisites for legitimacy. That formalization reduces practical impact and creates barriers to integrating user insights into design decisions.
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