#190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin

#190 - How to Navigate the Constant Change in UX Research with Learners CEO Alec Levin

Author: User Interviews May 26, 2026 Duration: 39:43

Erin May sits down with Alec Levin, CEO and Co-Founder of Learners, to explore how researchers can navigate the rapid changes reshaping their field. Alec shares his vision for how AI and automation are creating unprecedented opportunities for research teams willing to step up and lead.

Alec argues that while AI can handle routine tasks like usability testing and surveys, researchers have a chance to focus on higher-value discovery work that includes prototyping and coding. He emphasizes that this is a critical moment for researchers to define their own future rather than letting executives decide their role. The conversation covers practical examples of AI-powered research workflows, the importance of cross-functional collaboration, and why researchers need to be more proactive in pitching their vision internally.

Highlights

  • 03:40 Balance sheeting thinking for change
  • 06:15 Connecting researchers through community
  • 13:11 Discovery research importance 
  • 15:02 Vision needed for researcher evolution
  • 24:08 Automated research workflows emerging
  • 31:16 Human elements AI can't replace

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
Podcast Episodes
#156 - Change Management with Graham Gardner of U.S. Bank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:44
Change is an important and inevitable part of developing as a user experience professional. But what does change look like when it happens at the organizational level? That is the focus of this episode, featuring Graham…
#155 - Exploratory Design Research with Will Notini of IDEO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:17
The consulting firm IDEO helped pioneer "design thinking" as a way to create products that better solve customer wants and needs, creating fans. Over 30 years later, the interplay between design and research has never be…
#154 - Building the UX Team of Tomorrow with Brad Orego of Webflow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:05
The craft of UX research is at an all-time high. How research leaders structure, staff, and scale their teams is more important than ever. Erin and Carol are joined by Brad Orego, Head of Research at Webflow, to talk all…
#153 - Security-Minded UX with Caroline Morchio of Dashlane [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:55
In our Season 3 finale, Erin and Carol are joined by Caroline Morchio, Head of UX at Dashlane, a credential management platform. Their conversation explores UX research best practices at a security-minded organization li…