AI Enhanced News

Design Lead, Q4 2024 – Q4 2025

To establish AI expertise and drive user engagement, Blick launched a series of AI features. Our approach was to deploy these features rapidly and refine them iteratively, using insights from user behavior to guide our development.

Creating a smart and instant news deep dive.

Challenge

Our initial chatbot failed to gain traction, leading us to pivot toward an AI-enhanced search MVP experience. With AI we focus on maximizing session time and converting users into more loyal readers. The current challenge is driving recirculation and ensuring that once users find what they need, they continue to explore the ecosystem instead of ending their journey.

Solution

Our AI search MVP offers summarized responses from our archives, mirroring the intuitive search experience of Gemini or Google. To prevent users from bouncing after their initial search, we’ve embedded interactive AI widgets that offer deeper context and lead readers to related stories. The goal is to reduce friction and create a seamless transition from search results to a full-story deep dive.

Impacts

10% increase in session duration when using the suggested questions feature

20% more page views for sessions using the AI-enhanced search

90% of AI-enhanced search input interactions only entered a single query

All quantitative metrics have been anonymized or modified to protect sensitive business information.

My Contributions

UX Research, UX Strategy, UX Design, UI Design, Design System, Design Handoff, Stakeholder Management

Team

PM, PO, Tech Lead, Web/iOS/Android Developer, Backend Engineer, Business Analyst

AI Enhanced News

Design Lead, Q4 2024 – Q4 2025

To establish AI expertise and drive user engagement, Blick launched a series of AI features. Our approach was to deploy these features rapidly and refine them iteratively, using insights from user behavior to guide our development.

Creating a smart and instant news deep dive.

Challenge

Our initial chatbot failed to gain traction, leading us to pivot toward an AI-enhanced search MVP experience. With AI we focus on maximizing session time and converting users into more loyal readers. The current challenge is driving recirculation and ensuring that once users find what they need, they continue to explore the ecosystem instead of ending their journey.

Solution

Our AI search MVP offers summarized responses from our archives, mirroring the intuitive search experience of Gemini or Google. To prevent users from bouncing after their initial search, we’ve embedded interactive AI widgets that offer deeper context and lead readers to related stories. The goal is to reduce friction and create a seamless transition from search results to a full-story deep dive.

Impacts

10% increase in session duration when using the suggested questions feature

20% more page views for sessions using the AI-enhanced search

90% of AI-enhanced search input interactions only entered a single query

All quantitative metrics have been anonymized or modified to protect sensitive business information.

My Contributions

UX Research, UX Strategy, UX Design, UI Design, Design System, Design Handoff, Stakeholder Management

Team

PM, PO, Tech Lead, Web/iOS/Android Developer, Backend Engineer, Business Analyst

AI Enhanced News

Design Lead, Q4 2024 – Q4 2025

To establish AI expertise and drive user engagement, Blick launched a series of AI features. Our approach was to deploy these features rapidly and refine them iteratively, using insights from user behavior to guide our development.

Creating a smart and instant news deep dive.

Challenge

Our initial chatbot failed to gain traction, leading us to pivot toward an AI-enhanced search MVP experience. With AI we focus on maximizing session time and converting users into more loyal readers. The current challenge is driving recirculation and ensuring that once users find what they need, they continue to explore the ecosystem instead of ending their journey.

Solution

Our AI search MVP offers summarized responses from our archives, mirroring the intuitive search experience of Gemini or Google. To prevent users from bouncing after their initial search, we’ve embedded interactive AI widgets that offer deeper context and lead readers to related stories. The goal is to reduce friction and create a seamless transition from search results to a full-story deep dive.

Impacts

10% increase in session duration when using the suggested questions feature

20% more page views for sessions using the AI-enhanced search

90% of AI-enhanced search input interactions only entered a single query

All quantitative metrics have been anonymized or modified to protect sensitive business information.

My Contributions

UX Research, UX Strategy, UX Design, UI Design, Design System, Design Handoff, Stakeholder Management

Team

PM, PO, Tech Lead, Web/iOS/Android Developer, Backend Engineer, Business Analyst

Showcase of the user flow when searching or asking questions.

Showcase of the user flow when searching or asking questions.

Showcase of the user flow when searching or asking questions.

Preserving momentum
to keep readers in the flow.

To address a knowledge debt in ongoing narratives, we started experimenting with a contextual AI widget designed to bridge information gaps. Our research found that users often drop off when they lack context. The friction of searching for background info kills their momentum. By putting AI-generated context directly into the text, we answer questions before they lead to a bounce. This keeps the reading experience seamless and ensures users have everything they need to follow along from start to finish.

The AI question offers users contextual general insights into the topic to bring them up to speed.

The AI question offers users contextual general insights into the topic to bring them up to speed.

The AI question offers users contextual general insights into the topic to bring them up to speed.

From passive skimming
to intentional deep dives.

To help direct-traffic users navigate our long-form content, we’re experimenting with an automated TL;DR layer. This widget provides instant value but intentionally withholds the "how" and "why" to drive article completion. Our AI-driven, tabbed interface helps move users from shallow skimming to active reading, helping us build long-term habits and boost overall session duration.

The AI TL;DR widget at the top of articles provides users a quick preview before they dive deeper.

The AI TL;DR widget at the top of articles provides users a quick preview before they dive deeper.

The AI TL;DR widget at the top of articles provides users a quick preview before they dive deeper.