The next frontier of AI is 'embodied intelligence,' where smart devices like fridges and speakers become an everyday part of life. Designers must find a balance between seamless convenience and intentional texture that reminds users they’re in control.

The ‘seamlessness’ trap of digital experiences should be avoided, as it can lead to a lack of user participation and make AI products feel surplus to requirements. By integrating technology in a subtle way, designers can build checkpoints into physical products where users still get to make decisions, making the product unique and memorable.

For example, LEGO’s Smart Brick demonstrates how technology can deepen the experience without overshadowing it. An AI-driven central heating unit could provide suggestions while waiting for user approval before acting on them, ensuring human agency remains a key part of the design process.

The future should see products that preserve human agency and make intelligence feel collaborative rather than controlling. This means positioning products as parts of connected systems or ecosystems, rather than just individual objects. By doing so, designers can create products that blend hardware, software and AI into seamless experiences without losing the essence of physical interaction.