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I'm a senior UX researcher at Microsoft. Here's how I broke into AI without a tech background — and 3 lessons I learned.
Business Insider· 2026-02-04 10:51
Core Insights - The article discusses the journey of a UX research lead at Microsoft, highlighting the transition from architecture to user experience and AI research, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the tech industry. Group 1: Career Path and Education - The individual transitioned from a background in architecture to user experience, enrolling in a user experience course and later pursuing a master's degree in user experience and interaction design [2][4]. - Initial career steps included an internship at Korn Ferry, leading to a full-time role, followed by a position at Cisco as a UX research lead, before joining Microsoft [4][5]. Group 2: AI Research Insights - Continuous evaluation of AI is crucial, as it requires ongoing assessment to ensure trustworthy user experiences, revealing inconsistencies and areas for improvement [8][9]. - AI can lower barriers for individuals with disabilities but may also create new inequities if not designed with accessibility in mind, necessitating the inclusion of diverse user groups in research [10][11]. Group 3: Upskilling and Impact - Gaining fluency in AI concepts is more important than deep technical knowledge, allowing for effective communication between technical teams and user needs [12][13]. - Building a portfolio that emphasizes the intersection of AI and user experience is essential for demonstrating value to hiring managers, showcasing frameworks and evaluation studies [15].