Enough AI copilots! We need AI HUDs

July 31, 2025

AI
LLMs
Design
UX

Side-by-side comparison showing a dummy pilot labeled "Copilot" with text describing it as a natural language interface that responds in seconds, and a cockpit view with a digital heads-up display labeled "Heads-up display (HUD)" described as a tool that provides live data visualization and responds in milliseconds.

In my opinion, one of the best critiques of modern AI design comes from a 1992 talk by the researcher Mark Weiser where he ranted against “copilot” as a metaphor for AI.This was 33 years ago, but it’s still incredibly relevant for anyone designing with AI.

Source: Enough AI copilots! We need AI HUDs

I’m sure I’m not alone at being surprised about the metaphor of AI as a co-pilot being decades old. Or that criticisms of this metaphor are as old as that.

Here Geoffrey Litt picks up the thread and explores AI as heads up displays (HUD) ad a better metaphor for designing with AI.

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