User Experience (UX) has never stood still. From its early days of simply making things usable to today’s complex, AI-enabled ecosystems, UX has continuously evolved in response to technology, scale, and human need. This whitepaper features Dr. Eric Schaffer, Founder and CEO of HFI, outlining the essential skills research teams need to work alongside AI as co-bots, highlighting the importance of both analytical depth and storytelling in turning insights into business value. About the author Dr. Eric Schaffer is the Founder and CEO of Human Factors International. His book, Institutionalization of UX: A Step-by-Step Guide to a User Experience Practice, provides a roadmap for companies to make usability a systematic, routine practice throughout their organizations. Dr. Schaffer also co-developed The HFI Framework™, an ISO-certifiable process for user-centered design, built on principles from human-computer interaction, ergonomics, psychology, computer science, and marketing. Dr. Schaffer has completed projects for more than 100 Fortune 500 clients, providing user experience design consulting and training. He is a member of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society and a Certified Professional Ergonomist.