Rupa Chaturvedi

Human Centered AI Institute

Founder

Vybe Snacks

Stanford University

Adjunct Lecturer (Product Design)

Miraj Sustainable Racing Club

California's first sustainable racing club

Founder & President

Reforge

Co-created the "Generative AI Products: How to get from Idea to MVP" course for product managers, design and user research leaders, consultants and founders. Understand AI by getting hands-on with this practical course taught by industry experts.

Partner

Uber

Head of Merchant & Ads Design

First Round Capital

Product & UX Design Mentor

Google

UX Design Manager

Amazon

I manage and lead a team of UX and Personality designers focused on Conversational AI within the Alexa Shopping group in Amazon. Collectively, my team and I conceptualize, deliver design and strategy to help launch customer experiences that span upper funnel, inspiration and product discovery; product evaluation and research, and post purchase needs of our customer. We are fierce advocates for our customers and leverage multiple sources of data from qualitative to quantitative to guide our intuition and measure our efficacy. The impact we have generated is a combination of customer experience vision, strategic frameworks and mental models as well as design systems for interaction with Alexa by voice and devices in the context of shopping.

Sr UX Designer, Alexa Shopping

Lead UX Designer for Augmented Reality (AR) experiences at Amazon

Sr UX Designer

Sentient Technologies

Helped launch an AI-enabled shopping product that will change the way shoppers shop online. 
Conceptualized and designed multi-channel user experiences for a breakthrough visual search technology product - redefining how consumers shop online.

Helped launch a breakthrough AI enabled online shopping product within 5 months.
Contributed from conceptualizing the UI and product strategy/features to final implementation through whiteboard sketches, wire-frames, high fidelity prototypes and design specifications.

Followed a thorough user centered design process to gather insights into shopper behavior and expectations as well as iterative design based on feedback from user testing.

Head of Design - Visual Intelligence

Head of Merchant & Ads Design at Uber, Adjunct Lecturer at Stanford University

I'm building a world-class AI education institute that puts humans at the center of the AI revolution. Our mission is to empower professionals worldwide to create AI solutions that deliver tangible value for both businesses and end users. We're committed to making AI education accessible, enabling people from all backgrounds to help shape technology's future.

Hard truth for UX designers: if your role looks the same in 2 years, that’s a red flag.

If your value is defined by producing UI artifacts (wireframes, mockups, and redlines) you are in a precarious position. AI models are already exceptionally good at pattern matching and interface generation.

But if your value is defined by system design, you have never been more necessary.

There is a shift from "designing for the user" to "designing for the system."

When an AI agent acts on behalf of a user, it doesn't need a UI. It needs:

- Behavioral Specs: What is the acceptable range of autonomy for this model?
- Adaptive Context: How does the system pivot when the user’s intent is ambiguous?
- Human-in-the-Loop Protocols: When must the human step in for oversight?

These are design responsibilities. They require moving upstream to shape what the system learns and how it decides.

This is exactly why I developed the Advanced AI & Agentic Design curriculum. We stop looking at screens and start looking at system behaviors. We focus on defining constraints, designing for non-deterministic outcomes, and building trust in autonomous flows.

The designers who survive this shift will be the ones who can define the guardrails of the systems we are building. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3MjqTzM

Design & AI Leader | Stanford Lecturer | AI enablement for UX orgs | ex-Uber, Google, Amazon

Google's Head of Product announced a shift from "writing-first to building-first culture."

Microsoft's CPO said "prompt sets are the new PRDs."

Product management went through a transformation in the past 18 months that UX designers are just starting to feel.

When you can see a shift happening in an adjacent discipline, you have visibility others don't. The question is whether you use it strategically.

I've been mapping what the PM precedent signals for UX roles—and how designers can position themselves while the industry is still figuring out what these roles look like.

Check out my latest newsletter for more on this:

This is the AI UX Brief - my weekly newsletter on designing intelligent systems, leadership in the AI era, and navigating the messy reality of AIUX. F

Open article: Redefining UX Value: The Shift from Execution to Influence by Rupa Chaturvedi • 5 min read

Redefining UX Value: The Shift from Execution to Influence

Meta, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic - they're paying AI PMs up to $600K+.
Why? Because these PMs aren't writing PRDs anymore. They're architecting intelligent systems - designing model behavior, shaping evaluation frameworks, defining how AI thinks and decides.

The role has evolved from coordination to creation. And the market is paying accordingly.

Designers have a unique opportunity here. System thinking, behavioral specification, mental models - these are already in our DNA. Now it's about applying them to intelligence architecture.

Product's transformation is our preview. They're 12-18 months ahead on this curve, and their playbook is completely visible. We can see exactly which capabilities the market values and how to develop them.

In this week's issue, I break down what designers can learn from Product's transformation - the specific capabilities commanding these salaries and strategies for positioning themselves effectively.

Open article: The $600K Question: What AI PMs Know That UX Designers Don't (Yet) by Rupa Chaturvedi • 6 min read

The $600K Question: What AI PMs Know That UX Designers Don't (Yet)

I got a message this week from a UX Director at a FAANG company 6 weeks after completing MXDAI:

“Org changes have been constant here, and the structure is getting flatter every quarter. The expectations on designers have shifted too. My team and I are being pulled into more conversations about how the AI behaves, not just how it looks on the surface. PM and Eng expect us to have a clear point of view there, and if we don’t, we’re not really influencing the product. MXDAI helped me step into those conversations with more confidence. It’s made a noticeable difference in how I show up and how my team gets included.”

What resonated with me is how common this has become.

Across companies, designers are being asked to take on a level of strategic influence that isn’t written into the job description but is now core to how teams move forward. 

As orgs continue to flatten, leaders and ICs are figuring out how to stay relevant in a landscape where expectations rise even as layers disappear. The people who can bring clarity to messy AI questions and ambiguous decisions are the ones carrying a different kind of weight.

This is the work we focus on inside MXDAI.

We’re currently the number one AI design course on Maven, and now you know why.

Maven also extended the promo for one more day today, in case you’ve been considering joining the next cohort - take advantage of the 25% tuition discount - offer expires tonight/

If you’re facing similar changes or want to get ahead of what’s coming, feel free to reach out.

cc Maven

There’s been so much talk lately about PMs vibe-coding prototypes and PRDs being replaced with “just build something and show me.”
But here’s what I keep coming back to: designers need these skills just as much as PMs do, maybe more.

Our stakeholders are adopting AI tools at a pace that’s hard to ignore. The workflows between design, product and engineering are shifting fast. If designers don’t build fluency in this space, they’ll get left behind.

Vibe coding isn’t about learning to code. It’s about learning to build.

When you can build with AI tools, even scrappy prototypes, you collapse the distance between an idea and something you can actually interact with. You get to explore AI behaviors and edge cases hands-on instead of trying to explain them through diagrams and long documents.

And as you experiment with different tools, you start developing a deeper understanding of the underlying tech, the constraints, the limitations and what’s truly feasible. That knowledge changes how you design. It sharpens your instincts. It gives you language and clarity your stakeholders instantly recognize.

This is also where designers make a shift. You stop worrying about perfect wireframes and start focusing on how to validate your assumptions. You move from being the person who “hands things off” to becoming a strategic partner who brings real, testable workflows to the table.

Designers who lean into this aren’t just speeding up their process. They’re shaping how AI products come to life.

If you’re ready to invest in these skills, take a look at MXDAI: https://bit.ly/48o50YD 
We learn by doing. You’ll explore a range of AI tools, build real workflows, and leave with a portfolio-worthy project that reflects how AI design actually happens today.

NOTE: Currently, Maven is offering a flat 25% discount on the next cohort and its valid only for this. week.

Nixa Espínola

Dexcom

Leading a dynamic team of senior UX, UI, and content designers focused on creating the next generation of monitoring systems for patients with T1 and T2 diabetes.

Product Design Lead (Technical Manager), Dexcom Labs

User Experience Design Lead, New Markets

adplist.org

• Member of a global organization of +20K mentors committed to making mentorship in Product Development accessible for all. As a community we recently achieved $1.3M in pre-seed funding.

Design Mentor

Genomo

• Built a diverse team comprising biotech co-founders, UX/visual designers, marketers, and tech writers, providing mentorship and management.
• Spearheaded the vision, strategy, and roadmap for a B2B/B2C marketplace in Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics; successfully pitched and launched an MVP.
• Graduated from UCSD StartR Rady Accelerator Program, 2021 cohort.

 Founder • Head of UX • Principal Product Designer

Sysmex America, Inc.

• Managed the execution of Sysmex's first Design System.

Product Design Lead (Consultant)

Illumina

• Led, designed, and launched sophisticated cloud-based genomic software with 90% success rates, and user satisfaction averages of 6.5/7.
• Increased systems' efficiency by 6x. Enhanced scalability of B2B data management platforms through comprehensive system-level design, ensuring a seamless, user-friendly interface.
• Drove product innovation and design enhancements by leveraging customer feedback, data analytics, and engagement metrics to shape product roadmaps.
• Facilitated Design Thinking workshops and collaborative sessions across business units, mentoring new hires and contractors.

Sr. Interaction Designer, Experience Design Lead 

Save the Water™ (STW™)

As Technology Associate Director: UX, I spearheaded the enhancement of our organization's digital channels, focusing on areas like Information and Interaction Design, Visual Design, Usability, Branding, and SEO.

• Established and led a top-performing, geographically diverse team of UX, UI, and visual designers, along with researchers.
• Orchestrated the redesign of SavetheWater.org in nine months with zero-budget, and a fully remote, volunteer team.
• Implemented a design strategy that boosted new visitor traffic by 25%, returning visitors by 50%, and elevated monthly online donations from $250-$300 to nearly $2,000.
• Solidified a design process that emphasized rapid iteration and lean experimentation. 
• Cultivated strong stakeholder relationships through weekly one-on-ones, regular design critiques, and monthly progress reports to the Board of Directors.
• Supported the Director of Technology in recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring diverse team members, introducing User-Centered Design principles throughout the organization.

Technology Associate Director: UX  

As Sysmex's first UX and Product Design Lead, I drove UX strategies for various cloud-based projects. My role encompassed planning, coordinating, and implementing key roadmaps to enhance our cloud ecosystem. My diverse responsibilities included Product and Project Management, Visual Design, User Research, Interaction Design, Content Strategy, and UAT.

My commitment to Goal-Directed and User-Centered Design methods enabled me to offer strategic direction and elevate UX as a fundamental aspect of product development.

• Owned a large-scale redesign project to create cohesive, seamless, and elegant experiences across all B2B applications and cloud platforms.
• Pioneered organization-wide adoption of User-Centered Design methods, elevating UX to a pivotal role in product development, and resulting in the establishment of Sysmex's Global UX Design team in 2022.
• Planned and executed Sysmex's first Usability study, establishing a user research process that now serves as the company's standard.
• Regularly presented concrete solutions to senior leadership, ensuring monthly communication.
• Successfully cultivated and nurtured collaborative relationships with key partners and stakeholders.

UX, Product Design Lead

BB&T

At BB&T (now Truist), I orchestrated the end-to-end experience design of the award-winning mobile banking app: U by BB&T. 

• Co-invented a patented Electronic Receipt-Linking Database System.
• Co-created and designed 15+ new features impacting 2.5M weekly users, driving the acquisition of 450K new digital customers (18% growth) and increasing app store ratings from 2.3 to 4.8 within the first year of product release. 
• Earned accolades including the Javelin Mobile Banking Leader Award (2016) and J.D. Power Award for Highest Customer Satisfaction in Mobile Banking Apps among U.S Banks (2020).
• Played a key role in over 100 research sessions, collaborating with research teams on planning, execution, and analysis.
• Mentored new hires and contractors.
• Successful track record of delivering consistent, user-friendly solutions on time and within budget.

User Experience Lead for iOS & Android Apps

HUGE Inc.

At Huge, I contributed to the redesign of Veja São Paulo, a popular Brazilian weekly magazine with over 11M monthly users.

I worked closely with stakeholders and team members in planning and developing effective online strategies. My role involved creating detailed documentation to improve User Experience, including competitive analyses, user flows, wireframes, functional specifications, and reports.

• Provided concrete recommendations for enhancing Information Architecture, Usability, and Interaction Design.
• Collected, documented, analyzed, and prioritized key business and customer requirements.
• Created and updated essential deliverables like site maps, user flows, competitive analyses, mood boards, and functional specifications.

Interaction Designer

Multiplica

As a UX Designer & Information Architect, I was able to directly contribute to the planning, coordination, and execution of large-scale redesigns that included e-commerce and B2B platforms accessed by up to 17M unique users per month.

• Authored Chapter 11 of the book "Persuabilidade, converta seus usuários em clientes" (Persuation, convert your users into customers), sponsored by Multiplica and published by Editora Manole (Brazil, 2012).
• Contributed to the development of a brand-new business offering for one of our top clients, which resulted in a 45% increase in expected sales - for the first year alone.
• Coordinated cross-functional and multi-site teams, including information architects, visual and interaction designers, user researchers, and developers.
• Frequently evaluated design solutions and project activities to ensure the effective execution of standards.
• Helped research, evaluate, and recommend new and emerging Usability research techniques as well as processes’ innovations.
• Consistently developed and maintained relationships with internal teams, clients, and vendors.

UX Designer & Information Architect

UX & Product Design Leader | Mentor | Entrepreneur | AI Enthusiast | Lifelong Learner

I strategize, research, design, code, and direct projects and teams. I am a patent holder, award-winning, multidisciplinary UX and Product Design leader with over 10 years of experience in Human Centered Design across startups, agencies, non-profits, and Fortune 500 companies.

I’ve impacted millions of people by driving the vision and design of 50+ digital solutions and by successfully managing the entire UX lifecycle - from product definition to post-market release - of projects ranging between $100M and zero dollars.

With over 5 years of experience in transformational leadership, I've built and led high-performing cross-functional teams, creating environments that thrive on diversity, empathy, and teamwork. 

As a multidisciplinary designer, I am intimately involved with every phase of the product journey from requirements gathering, to strategy, research, design, development, and commercialization.

I am currently working at the intersection of science, technology, and creative thinking where I thrive on fostering deep customer empathy, and nurturing breakthrough innovation while partnering with multi-functional and cross-organizational teams.


Leadership:
Driving strategic thinking, building and managing cross-functional teams, recruiting and mentoring talent, developing strong relationships with strategic partners, and introducing user-centered design practices across organizations.

Expertise: 
UX Strategy & Design / Information Architecture / Interaction Design / User Research / Usability Engineering/ Visual Design.

Specialties: 
Agile & Lean methodologies / Mobile Experiences (Android & iOS native and responsive apps) / Cloud Software.

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