How to talk to users
The foundational YC lesson on extracting truth from user conversations.
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How do I test my AI prototype with real users, and can AI simulate user feedback?
Share the prototype link and watch five real people try to complete one task without your help; tools like Maze now test prototypes built in Figma Make, Lovable, Bolt, and Replit directly, and AI handles the busywork of writing test plans and summarizing sessions. Synthetic 'AI users' are useful for piloting your interview questions and cheap early passes, but the research consensus is clear: they replay what is already known and cannot surprise you, and the surprises are where the product insights live. Use AI to speed up research on real humans, not to replace them.
Go deeper
19 resources.
The early user research playbook for founders (Jeanette Mellinger)
A research leader's founder-specific interview playbook, from Uber Eats and beyond.
Open review.firstround.com →How to test and validate AI prototypes with users
Purpose-built for this exact workflow, including prototypes from Figma Make, Lovable, Bolt, and Replit.
Open maze.co →AI usability testing guide: modern workflow and tools
A neutral overview of where AI genuinely speeds up usability testing.
Open figma.com →How to get structured user feedback on your AI prototypes
Turns 'send the link around' into a structured test with real findings in about an hour.
Open reforge.com →How to get rapid user feedback on your mobile app prototype
Mobile-specific prototype testing tactics, useful for app founders.
Open usertesting.com →Synthetic users: if, when, and how to use AI-generated research
The most rigorous framework for when AI research participants are and are not legitimate.
Open nngroup.com →The challenges of synthetic users in UX research
Peer-reviewed-grade caution on what simulated users systematically miss.
Open interactions.acm.org →A review of experiments with synthetic users
Quantitative comparisons of synthetic versus human responses across studies.
Open measuringu.com →Synthetic users vs real user research: why AI falls short
The crispest articulation of the unknown-unknowns problem with AI feedback.
Open radicalproduct.com →AI synthetic users for UX testing: pros and cons guide
A balanced practitioner summary if you only read one pros-and-cons piece.
Open medium.com →UserTesting AI vs Maze AI vs Wynter: a complete guide
Head-to-head of the three main AI research platforms, including message testing.
Open genesysgrowth.com →Top AI tools for usability testing
A current tool landscape so you pick by need, not brand recall.
Open uxarmy.com →Synthetic users: the next revolution in UX research?
A researcher's hands-on trial of synthetic interviews with honest results.
Open carolinaguimaraeslima.medium.com →Test your prototypes: how to gather feedback and maximize learning
The evergreen craft of prototype testing: watch, don't instruct.
Open ixdf.org →User interviews for UX research: what, why and how
A free field guide for running interviews that produce decisions, not just notes.
Open userinterviews.com →Maze prototype testing
The fastest way to get task-based usability data on a clickable prototype.
Open maze.co →UserTesting AI: AI-powered UX platform
Real human panels with AI synthesis, highlight reels, and fraud detection on top.
Open usertesting.com →Synthetic Users
The leading tool for AI-simulated interviews; try it knowing its limits.
Open syntheticusers.com →More in Design & Prototyping
- Why prototype with AI before hiring a designer? 18 →
- How do founders turn ideas into clickable prototypes in hours (v0, Figma AI, Lovable)? 19 →
- How do I use AI to improve UX copy, onboarding flows, and landing pages? 19 →
- Which AI prototyping tool should I pick: v0, Lovable, Bolt, Replit, or Figma Make? 17 →
- How do I write prompts that get good UI out of AI design tools? 18 →
- How do I stop my AI-generated UI from looking generic? 18 →
- Do I still need a designer if AI can design, and when should I hire one? 19 →
- How do I take an AI-built prototype to a production-ready product? 18 →
- How do I design and ship a mobile app with AI? 18 →
- How do I create pitch decks, product images, and marketing visuals with AI? 18 →
- How do I create a logo and brand identity with AI on a founder budget? 19 →
Also in Starting Up
The same ground, over in Build the product, our Starting Up track.
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