Is the Global Menu Disappearing? Framing Navigation Design in the Age of AI

As AI becomes deeply woven into business software, a question arises: does navigation still matter when users can simply “ask” and get what they need?

In this talk, I’ll explore how AI is reshaping navigation in complex systems, but also why the fundamentals haven’t changed. Drawing from my work in product information architecture, interaction design, and AI-driven UX, I’ll contrast traditional navigation UI patterns with some new ones, such as blended search and chat, contextual recommendations, and agentic behaviors that guide users through tasks.

AI-enabled patterns can make navigation highly efficient, but the human needs navigation serves – discovery, orientation, movement, and trust – remain essential. Whether via traditional navigation or “smart” systems, users need to recognize where they are, understand what they can do, move efficiently, and feel confident. The global menu may be fading, but the map still exists; we’re simply inventing new ways to navigate it. Our challenge is ensuring users feel grounded no matter how “smart” the interface becomes.