Smarter Week

How to automate it

How to automate “run user interviews and usability tests”

Here are 2 ways to spend less time on this, best first. Each comes with steps you can follow today.

60 min
typically, a few times a week
20%
of the time can be automated
Easy
to set up

Fix 1 of 2

AIBest fix

Let an AI notetaker write the notes and the recap

A notetaker records the meeting, writes the summary and action items, and you send the recap in one click.

Typically saves about 75% of the time15 min to set up
  1. 1Check which notetaker your company allows: Copilot in Teams, Zoom AI Companion, Google Meet "Take notes for me", Otter, Fireflies or Granola.
  2. 2Turn it on for your recurring meetings and tell attendees it is on.
  3. 3After the meeting, review the action items and fix names or owners.
  4. 4Send the recap straight from the tool, or paste it into email or chat.

Tools: Copilot in Microsoft Teams · Zoom AI Companion · Google Meet "Take notes for me" · Otter, Fireflies or Granola

Fix 2 of 2

Software feature

Run unmoderated tests for simple usability questions

Maze, Lyssna and UserTesting run task-based tests without you on the call and summarize results with AI. Save live interviews for questions that need follow-up.

Typically saves about 40% of the time30 min to set up
  1. 1Pick questions that are about "can people do X" rather than "why".
  2. 2Build the test from your prototype in Maze, Lyssna or UserTesting.
  3. 3Recruit from their panel or your own users.
  4. 4Review the AI summary and watch the clips where people struggled.

Tools: Maze · Lyssna · UserTesting · Useberry

Who does this task

Roles in our library that list this as one of their common tasks. Each guide covers the rest of that role’s week.

UX / UI designerUX researcher

HourLeak · the 8-minute work audit

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Other common tasks for UX / UI designers