In this episode of Future of UX, we dive into one of the most controversial topics in design right now: synthetic users.

These AI-generated “users” promise fast, cheap, scalable insights — but can they really replace talking to real people? I’ll walk you through:

What synthetic users actually are and how they’re created
The tools and platforms already being used in UX research
A real-world example comparing synthetic vs. real user interviews
Benefits like speed, inclusivity, and early idea testing
The risks: shallow answers, bias, lack of emotional depth, and ethical concerns
What the future holds for synthetic users and how designers should approach them