AI Disclosure in HCI: How Emerging Professionals Can Avoid Deskilling

A new paper from Sydney Lee, published on arXiv (2606.24136), tackles a pressing issue in human-computer interaction: how to integrate generative AI into human-centered design without turning it into a crutch that erodes foundational skills. The author argues that while AI can streamline research and iteration within established workflows, it also introduces ethical bias, complexity, and risks of deskilling—especially for emerging professionals who lack a strong HCI foundation. Disclosure reports, the typical method for self-reporting AI usage, are deemed insufficient because they provide little guidance on appropriate implementation and may encourage omission to avoid consequences.

The study reflects on the design of the graduate course ITIS8300, which emphasized optimizing user experience, innovation, and collaboration through iterative user feedback. Students undertook a semester-long project structured around milestones and team roles, notably a 'generative AI advocate' role, culminating in a high-level disclosure report detailing design processes, methodology, findings, and rationale for AI usage. The course granted freedom in execution while setting clear boundaries for incorporating human feedback. Lee concludes that when AI usage is safe, justified, and transparent—mimicking an industry with minimal regulation—it can significantly advance the field through augmented workflows and co-creation, ultimately increasing productivity without sacrificing humanistic values.