If You Use a Folder Structure, You’ll Never Get This Right

During a recent IA research project on a file system, I was told by a user, “If you use a folder structure, you’ll never get this right.” The research confirmed this, so I started exploring other organization methods for the file system, and wondered how AI can help make this easier. I discovered that, as AI becomes more prevalent throughout our digital systems, traditional file systems—once only thought of as rigid hierarchies of folders and manual organization—are undergoing a profound transformation. This session explores how AI-driven search, semantic indexing, and contextual retrieval can change the way we store, access, and conceptualize data. Attendees will gain insight into emerging patterns in file system design, the implications for UX and information architecture, and how to prepare for a future where files may no longer need to be “filed” at all.