The surprisingly human task of giving AI a “good enough” taste
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Designers confront the human‑centred challenge of training AI to achieve a good‑enough sense of taste.
Fast Company has published a short piece titled “The remarkably human task of giving AI ‘good enough’ taste,” arguing that the elusive quality of “taste” still requires a human hand. The article notes that while generative models can mimic styles and recommend options, they lack the nuanced judgment that underpins what people consider stylish, appropriate or simply “good enough.” Designers and product teams, therefore, must act as curators, feeding human preferences back into the loop to steer AI outputs toward culturally resonant results.
The observation matters because “taste” is increasingly seen as a differentiator in an era where raw intelligence is commoditised. Earlier commentary this year – from a Wharton professor who called taste the most important skill in the AI era, to Forbes and The New York Times pieces warning that judgment and discernment are the last bastions of human advantage – underscores a growing consensus: AI can process data, but it cannot yet internalise the social and aesthetic habits that shape human preference. For marketers, designers and developers, the implication is clear – competitive products will blend algorithmic power with human‑led curation.
What to watch next is how firms operationalise this hybrid approach. Expect more experiments that embed human‑in‑the‑loop feedback mechanisms into generative pipelines, and perhaps new tooling that makes it easier to capture and apply “taste” signals at scale. The conversation will likely expand beyond design into areas such as content moderation, brand voice and even product strategy, as companies seek to preserve the uniquely human edge that AI still cannot replicate.
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