The Bitter Layout or: How I Learned to Love the Model Picker — Maximillian Piras, Yutori
Jul 21, 2025 · 14:24
In this talk, Maximillian Piras argues that conversational interfaces remain dominant in AI apps not because they are natural, but because they are 'conformable' — able to absorb the next model's capabilities without redesign. He calls this pattern 'The Bitter Layout': an input field, turn-by-turn flow, and a model picker, which prioritizes flexibility over usability. Applying Clayton Christensen's theory of commoditization, Piras claims that as long as scaling laws keep models from commoditizing, the interface itself is the commodity, and designers must conform to the next model. He traces the debate over chat UX from Linus Lee (2022) to Julian Lear (2024), and criticizes the model picker as a 'mode selector' that creates usability issues. Looking ahead, Piras suggests designers shift from procedural thinking to setting goals and constraints, and speculates that future AI UX will be 'grown' like a garden rather than built.
