Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
@gregg.io
⚙️ Research + design
📘 Author of Research Practice: http://researchpractice.co
✏️ Sharing infrequently at http://gregg.io
↗ A work in progress
📘 Author of Research Practice: http://researchpractice.co
✏️ Sharing infrequently at http://gregg.io
↗ A work in progress
Maybe I'm out of step, but I don't think it's great when most of the sponsors of a major user research conference are selling products that replace user researchers with AI.
October 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Maybe I'm out of step, but I don't think it's great when most of the sponsors of a major user research conference are selling products that replace user researchers with AI.
Reposted by Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
October 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
“I don’t have a password - it’s my thumb” is a phrase I hear way too often when I try to help my parents with their accounts.
Biometric login adds such a degree of difficulty in assisting aging adults, especially from afar.
Biometric login adds such a degree of difficulty in assisting aging adults, especially from afar.
September 7, 2025 at 11:22 PM
“I don’t have a password - it’s my thumb” is a phrase I hear way too often when I try to help my parents with their accounts.
Biometric login adds such a degree of difficulty in assisting aging adults, especially from afar.
Biometric login adds such a degree of difficulty in assisting aging adults, especially from afar.
I don't want to be recorded by facial recognition glasses.
I also don't want people to think I'm recording them because I wear Ray-Bans that look like the Meta privacy nightmare specs.
About time for new frames. 👓
I also don't want people to think I'm recording them because I wear Ray-Bans that look like the Meta privacy nightmare specs.
About time for new frames. 👓
August 28, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I don't want to be recorded by facial recognition glasses.
I also don't want people to think I'm recording them because I wear Ray-Bans that look like the Meta privacy nightmare specs.
About time for new frames. 👓
I also don't want people to think I'm recording them because I wear Ray-Bans that look like the Meta privacy nightmare specs.
About time for new frames. 👓
Mike Watt being backed up by Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, and Pat Smear.
What is your biggest concert flex?
August 28, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Mike Watt being backed up by Eddie Vedder, Dave Grohl, and Pat Smear.
Putting aside for a moment that the entire notion of user research is predicated on studying humans being, the doorknob phenomenon is very real, highly illuminating, and *impossible for any AI to replicate.*
Of the many, many things wrong with using “AI” participants for user research, one is that you will only ever get answers to the questions you ask, and nothing more.
August 13, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Putting aside for a moment that the entire notion of user research is predicated on studying humans being, the doorknob phenomenon is very real, highly illuminating, and *impossible for any AI to replicate.*
Bad Religion’s 1992 song “Generator” is an early warning of AI’s rise to ubiquity, with prescient lyrics about text and photographs being subsumed under a generative layer. In this essay I will-
August 12, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Bad Religion’s 1992 song “Generator” is an early warning of AI’s rise to ubiquity, with prescient lyrics about text and photographs being subsumed under a generative layer. In this essay I will-
Reposted by Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
Every Silicon Valley innovation in the consumer space has been "what if this software was my mom" which explains why ChatGPT's primary use is as a therapist, relationship substitute for lonely boys, and "personal operating system" to organize their life
August 7, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Every Silicon Valley innovation in the consumer space has been "what if this software was my mom" which explains why ChatGPT's primary use is as a therapist, relationship substitute for lonely boys, and "personal operating system" to organize their life
Eyes Wide Shut. Packed opening night in NYC. Masked party scene.
“May I have the password, please?”
Audience member immediately yells “BULLSHIT” and the whole place explodes with laughter.
“May I have the password, please?”
Audience member immediately yells “BULLSHIT” and the whole place explodes with laughter.
Got me thinking.. What's the strongest reaction you've seen an audience member have to a scene in a cinema?
During the birthday party scene in SIGNS I saw a whole row of young women literally throw their popcorn in the air like a cartoon.
During the birthday party scene in SIGNS I saw a whole row of young women literally throw their popcorn in the air like a cartoon.
Someone in my audience had a very audible negative reaction to the dog scene in TOGETHER. So that was fun!
August 3, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Eyes Wide Shut. Packed opening night in NYC. Masked party scene.
“May I have the password, please?”
Audience member immediately yells “BULLSHIT” and the whole place explodes with laughter.
“May I have the password, please?”
Audience member immediately yells “BULLSHIT” and the whole place explodes with laughter.
There are ~17k Starbucks stores in US (which is 2x the number of coworking spaces).
Really want to improve "collaboration, problem-solving, and culture-building?" I can think of 17k places where this will be way more impactful than an office.
Really want to improve "collaboration, problem-solving, and culture-building?" I can think of 17k places where this will be way more impactful than an office.
Starbucks is increasing its RTO requirement to 4 days a week from 3. Additionally it’s asked all managers to either relocate to Seattle or Toronto, or accept a one-time payment then resign.
At least that’s more generous than Amazon’s resigning without severance.
At least that’s more generous than Amazon’s resigning without severance.
Starbucks remote workers ordered to return to office 4 days a week
CEO Brian Niccol is cracking down on work from home, ordering Starbucks employees to return to the office four days a week or take a buyout.
www.usatoday.com
July 15, 2025 at 5:26 PM
There are ~17k Starbucks stores in US (which is 2x the number of coworking spaces).
Really want to improve "collaboration, problem-solving, and culture-building?" I can think of 17k places where this will be way more impactful than an office.
Really want to improve "collaboration, problem-solving, and culture-building?" I can think of 17k places where this will be way more impactful than an office.
This is (still) a great idea. And the same goes for Medium.com: if you are a local journalist and need a place to share your work, reach out if I can help you get started.
July 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This is (still) a great idea. And the same goes for Medium.com: if you are a local journalist and need a place to share your work, reach out if I can help you get started.
Reposted by Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
I am serious about supporting local journalism. If you want to report the stories, I will get you set up technically.
And I will keep you online.
HMU.
PS>Any hosting partners wanna step up? How about one shared account for the first three new local publications?
(Traffic will be small at first)
And I will keep you online.
HMU.
PS>Any hosting partners wanna step up? How about one shared account for the first three new local publications?
(Traffic will be small at first)
January 31, 2025 at 6:25 PM
I am serious about supporting local journalism. If you want to report the stories, I will get you set up technically.
And I will keep you online.
HMU.
PS>Any hosting partners wanna step up? How about one shared account for the first three new local publications?
(Traffic will be small at first)
And I will keep you online.
HMU.
PS>Any hosting partners wanna step up? How about one shared account for the first three new local publications?
(Traffic will be small at first)
New from my blog: In praise of redundant publishing practices https://gregg.io/in-praise-of-redundancy
"Publish for both your audience and your future self"
"Publish for both your audience and your future self"
June 24, 2025 at 10:12 PM
New from my blog: In praise of redundant publishing practices https://gregg.io/in-praise-of-redundancy
"Publish for both your audience and your future self"
"Publish for both your audience and your future self"
New from my blog: How I write https://gregg.io/how-I-write
"A brief reintroduction"
"A brief reintroduction"
June 24, 2025 at 10:12 PM
New from my blog: How I write https://gregg.io/how-I-write
"A brief reintroduction"
"A brief reintroduction"
Reposted by Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
I don’t know that anyone following me needs this reminder today, but just in case, turn off biometric authentication and switch to password on your phone if you think you could be arrested.
You cannot be compelled to give a password, but biometrics are treated differently.
You cannot be compelled to give a password, but biometrics are treated differently.
June 14, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I don’t know that anyone following me needs this reminder today, but just in case, turn off biometric authentication and switch to password on your phone if you think you could be arrested.
You cannot be compelled to give a password, but biometrics are treated differently.
You cannot be compelled to give a password, but biometrics are treated differently.
Pro tip for families sharing a small hotel room: the lobby restroom is always an option! And the fitness center might have a fully stocked shower.
May 30, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Pro tip for families sharing a small hotel room: the lobby restroom is always an option! And the fitness center might have a fully stocked shower.
For my work @ Medium.com, I'm studying why designers/UXRs write on the internet. If you blog or publish a newsletter, I'd love to learn more via this very short survey (or send me a DM if you prefer!): medium.typeform.com/to/cKg2sFIv?...
Writing on the internet
We're trying to better understand what motivates designers and user researchers to write on the internet. If this is you, I'd love your input!
medium.typeform.com
April 29, 2025 at 10:58 PM
For my work @ Medium.com, I'm studying why designers/UXRs write on the internet. If you blog or publish a newsletter, I'd love to learn more via this very short survey (or send me a DM if you prefer!): medium.typeform.com/to/cKg2sFIv?...
There's a special sense of pride that comes from doing meaningful work with an organization that embodies your values. blog.medium.com/yes-to-a-div...
Yes to a diverse community
In pursuit of a deeper understanding of the world through shared stories
blog.medium.com
April 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
There's a special sense of pride that comes from doing meaningful work with an organization that embodies your values. blog.medium.com/yes-to-a-div...
Reposted by Gregg Bernstein (he/him)
i think it is important to say that the open and explicit racism of the president and the vice president isn’t just uncouth or “controversial” but a direct attack on tens of millions of americans and a dereliction of their duty to represent the entire country
January 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
i think it is important to say that the open and explicit racism of the president and the vice president isn’t just uncouth or “controversial” but a direct attack on tens of millions of americans and a dereliction of their duty to represent the entire country
Webinars are great! But think twice about the relevancy of webinars offering timely workplace advice from people who haven't been in a workplace *for years.*
January 17, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Webinars are great! But think twice about the relevancy of webinars offering timely workplace advice from people who haven't been in a workplace *for years.*
Even if you haven't recently experienced a layoff and subsequent job search (like me), you should read this post about the UX job market by @jmspool.bsky.social. It's insightful and helpful for job seekers, hiring managers, and ICs: articles.centercentre.com/why-is-the-u...
Why is the UX Job Market Such a Mess Right Now? — A Comprehensive Explanation
Every day, I talk with people struggling to find a UX design, research, or content job.
The UX job market has never been this difficult to navigate. Even seasoned, talented UX professionals are str...
articles.centercentre.com
January 16, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Even if you haven't recently experienced a layoff and subsequent job search (like me), you should read this post about the UX job market by @jmspool.bsky.social. It's insightful and helpful for job seekers, hiring managers, and ICs: articles.centercentre.com/why-is-the-u...
Honestly enjoyable things I'm doing to finish 2024 before feasting and celebrating with my family: installing Ruby and Jekyll on a new Chromebook, and migrating 2FA accounts from Twilio to @bitwarden.bsky.social 's authenticator. Fun stuff!
December 31, 2024 at 11:03 PM
Honestly enjoyable things I'm doing to finish 2024 before feasting and celebrating with my family: installing Ruby and Jekyll on a new Chromebook, and migrating 2FA accounts from Twilio to @bitwarden.bsky.social 's authenticator. Fun stuff!
Articles that hype or guess rather than inform
Decorated with AI slop “art”
Shared on a platform that costs you nothing but your eternal association with those who monetize hate
A better world is possible if you don’t optimize for the dumbest, easiest option every step of the way.
Decorated with AI slop “art”
Shared on a platform that costs you nothing but your eternal association with those who monetize hate
A better world is possible if you don’t optimize for the dumbest, easiest option every step of the way.
December 18, 2024 at 2:43 PM
Articles that hype or guess rather than inform
Decorated with AI slop “art”
Shared on a platform that costs you nothing but your eternal association with those who monetize hate
A better world is possible if you don’t optimize for the dumbest, easiest option every step of the way.
Decorated with AI slop “art”
Shared on a platform that costs you nothing but your eternal association with those who monetize hate
A better world is possible if you don’t optimize for the dumbest, easiest option every step of the way.