AI is changing not only what product teams build, but how they learn, make decisions, and prioritize work. Research, analytics, design, and product workflows can now be accelerated, synthesized, and a… See more

AI is changing not only what product teams build, but how they learn, make decisions, and prioritize work. Research, analytics, design, and product workflows can now be accelerated, synthesized, and automated at unprecedented speed. As AI capabilities expand, so does pressure to move faster, automate more, and optimize for efficiency at scale. In that environment, teams risk losing touch with the people behind the data. Organizations may have more information and confidence than ever before, yet be farther from real human understanding. Most Human-Centered AI frameworks focus on making AI systems fair, transparent, explainable, and trustworthy. Far less attention has been paid to how teams preserve human-centered practices while operating in increasingly AI-accelerated environments. This talk proposes Human-Centricity Drift as a lens for understanding the gradual loss of customer context, accessibility, agency, and human understanding as organizations optimize for efficiency and scale. Rather than focusing on AI systems, the session focuses on the people building products and the decisions they make every day. Attendees will learn the HUMAN Practice Framework, a practical lens for product managers, designers, researchers, engineers, analysts, and leaders. Through examples from research, analytics, and product development, attendees will learn to recognize Human-Centricity Drift and apply the framework to everyday product decisions. Sobre Stephany Dunstan: Dr. Stephany Dunstan is a research, insights, and assessment leader with expertise in UXR, measurement, analytics, and evidence-based decision making. Across higher education and industry, she has spent her career helping organizations answer complex questions about people, experiences, and outcomes. Prior to leading UX Research and Insights teams at Lenovo, Stephany served in academic leadership roles, including Associate Vice Provost for Assessment at North Carolina State University, where she led institution-wide assessment, evaluation, and research initiatives. Today, she leads multidisciplinary teams spanning UX research, digital analytics, and information architecture, helping product teams connect customer understanding with business decisions. Stephany is particularly interested in how organizations use research, data, and emerging technologies to make decisions, and how teams can remain connected to real human experiences amid increasing complexity, automation, and scale. Sobre Yu Yuan: Yu Yuan is a UX researcher at Lenovo whose work helps cross-functional product teams stay grounded in real human needs while improving digital experiences. She conducts qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method research across eCommerce and product experiences, translating customer behavior, pain points, and decision-making patterns into actionable strategies for design, product, analytics, and business teams. Her research spans a full spectrum of audiences, including Gaming, Education, Creator, and SMB segments. Working across these diverse customer groups has shaped her perspective on how human needs, motivations, accessibility considerations, and decision-making contexts vary across product experiences. Show less