This article explores three experimental AI tools from Google Labs that can support designers during the exploration phase of the design process. Instead of focusing on production-ready outputs, the tools are positioned as thinking partners—helping designers generate ideas, explore concepts, and synthesize information more efficiently in the early stages of product and UX work.
The piece is especially relevant for product designers and UX practitioners interested in AI-assisted workflows. It highlights how tools like NotebookLM and other Google Labs experiments can be used for research synthesis, ideation, and sense-making, offering practical inspiration rather than step-by-step tutorials. The focus is on augmenting design thinking, not replacing it.
