Microsoft HAI guidelines (HAX)
Microsoft’s **Guidelines for Human-AI Interaction**—18 evidence-based practices—plus the **HAX Toolkit** that turns them into design library patterns, a team **Workbook**, and an NLP-oriented **Playbook** for planning failures. Academic ...
What it is
Microsoft’s Guidelines for Human-AI Interaction—18 evidence-based practices—plus the HAX Toolkit that turns them into design library patterns, a team Workbook, and an NLP-oriented Playbook for planning failures. Academic root: Amershi et al., CHI 2019 (Honorable Mention).
<!-- IMAGE: 4 phases: initially / during / when wrong / over time -->
Visual Spec & Architecture Diagram
HAX-style phases timeline: Planning → Design → Development → Deployment → Monitoring (labels aligned to chapter's Microsoft HAI/HAX summary). Icons per phase guidelines themes (e.g. transparency, control)—paraphrased, original art.
Why it matters
Practitioners told Microsoft Research AI UX felt uniquely ambiguous. The guidelines synthesize 20+ years of guidance and were validated with dozens of designers against popular AI products. Tooling exists so product teams can implement, not only cite the paper.
How it works (plain)
Toolkit path: Learn guidelines → Workbook prioritization with UX/AI/PM/eng → Design Library patterns → Playbook failure scenarios for NLP → prototype recoveries.
Guideline groups (paraphrased):
| Phase | Examples |
|---|---|
| Initially | Make clear what it can do; make clear how well |
| During | Time services to context; show relevant info; match norms; mitigate social biases |
| When wrong | Efficient invoke/dismiss/correct; scope when unsure; explain why |
| Over time | Memory of recent interactions; learn carefully; granular feedback; global controls; notify on changes |
Everyday example
A GPS that says “rerouting” (clear), lets you dismiss a bad turn suggestion (dismissal), and warns when maps updated overnight (notify changes).
Try it
Download/open the HAX Workbook concept (Excel planning guide on the Toolkit site). Pick 5 guidelines for one feature and T-shirt-size UI vs model vs data work.
Myths
- ⚠️ Myth: Guidelines replace user research.
- ✓ Reality: They focus design questions; you still test with people.
- ⚠️ Myth: Only designers need HAX.
- ✓ Reality: Workbook exists because many guidelines need engineering/data changes.
Sources
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/haxtoolkit/ai-guidelines/ ↗
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/haxtoolkit/ ↗
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/haxtoolkit/workbook/ ↗
- Playbook entry point: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/haxtoolkit/?p=109 ↗
- CHI paper / MSR page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/?p=559731 ↗