Teaching AI the Language of Design | Deep Dives with a16z

About this video

Anish Acharya speaks with Microsoft VP of Design John Maeda and Impeccable founder and CEO Paul Bakaus about how AI is changing the practice of design. The conversation explores the relationship between design and technology, the rise of AI-powered creative tools, and whether automation raises the floor, the ceiling, or both. Maeda and Bakaus discuss software craftsmanship, taste, creative judgment, and why some aspects of design may become increasingly automated while others become more valuable. They also examine agentic workflows, the future of user experience, the role of designers in an AI-native world, and how new tools may reshape the relationship between designers, engineers, and software itself. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:53 - How design and technology grew up together 04:45 - Craft, automation, and what agents still can't do 07:58 - Impeccable: teaching agents to speak designer 11:00 - From PostScript to GitHub - a lineage and a team-up 15:57 - Why "AI slop" keeps moving, and the hunt for uniqueness 19:24 - Beyond UX: designing for agents 22:24 - Raising the floor vs. raising the ceiling 34:40 - Surrendering to the machine - and whether AI has taste Resources: Follow Anish Acharya on X: https://x.com/illscience Follow John Maeda on X: https://x.com/johnmaeda Follow Paul Bakaus on X: https://x.com/pbakaus Get the GitHub Copilot app: gh.io/app Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Show on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Show on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see http://a16z.com/disclosures.