The Interface of Theseus: The Rise of Just-In-Time Interfaces

Abstract

Our community creates interfaces---pre-constructed, static artifacts. These interfaces are effortful to create, so we invest great effort and care into each of them. Yet the equilibrium is shifting: we can now construct nearly any software, bespoke, within moments. When construction is cheap, we may soon live in a future in which interfaces are constructed in real time. This is a world of just-in-time interfaces: rapid, discardable, on-demand interfaces tailored to our needs in the moment. Will our community still create traditional interactive systems in this world? Or will we create interface generators, ``interface.md'' guides for AI consumption? I argue that we ought to lean into a future of rapid, bespoke, on-demand interfaces.

UIST Visions 2026