#180 - What to Fix in '26 with Maria Rosala of NN/g & John Whalen of Brilliant Experience

#180 - What to Fix in '26 with Maria Rosala of NN/g & John Whalen of Brilliant Experience

Author: User Interviews January 6, 2026 Duration: 55:35

Ben is joined by Maria Rosala from Nielsen Norman Group and John Whalen from Brilliant Experience to wrap up 2025 and make some predictions for 2026. Maria and John share practical insights on everything from AI moderation tools to synthetic users, offering a balanced view of where these technologies excel and where human researchers remain irreplaceable.


Maria and John also dig into the democratization of research across product teams, the importance of governance and strategy when implementing AI tools, and how researchers can position themselves as orchestrators of both human and artificial intelligence. 

Highlights

  • 08:22 AI tools creating pressure for faster delivery
  • 17:18 Governance and oversight for AI implementation
  • 24:55 Composite and synthetic users explained
  • 41:56 Hiring advice for new researchers
  • 44:27 Demonstrating AI proficiency in job applications
  • 49:25 Research industry predictions for 2026

Resources


Awkward Silences is a conversation about the human side of building things. Hosts Erin May and Carol Guest, both VPs at User Interviews, don't just talk about theory-they get into the messy, real-world practice of talking to users and making sense of what they say. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the craft of user research, featuring candid chats with the practitioners who do this work every day. You'll hear stories about navigating tricky interviews, the weight of interpreting qualitative data, and how genuine understanding directly shapes better products and smarter business decisions. This isn't a dry lecture; it's a geeky, relatable dive into the questions and quiet moments that define UX research. The Awkward Silences podcast lives in the intersection of technology and business, focusing on the people and processes that connect them. Listen for practical insights, empathetic strategies, and the occasional shared laugh about the inevitable fumbles that come with trying to understand anyone. It’s for anyone who believes that building effectively starts with listening well.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Awkward Silences
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