The author discusses the hype around conversational interfaces in tech, highlighting the speed and lossiness of natural language as a data transfer mechanism. They argue that natural language is not always the most efficient form of communication and explore other data compression techniques such as gestures and keyboard shortcuts. The essay emphasizes the potential for conversational interfaces to augment, rather than replace, existing computing paradigms. The author shares a personal experience using an LLM for writing and suggests that AI should function as a meta-layer across all tools to make human-computer interaction more seamless. The piece concludes by advocating for viewing AI as a complement, rather than a substitute, for existing workflows and interfaces.
https://julian.digital/2025/03/27/the-case-against-conversational-interfaces/