Figma's CEO said his software won't replace the work of a world-class designer (www.businessinsider.com)

Figma CEO Dylan Field told a podcast audience that the company’s new AI capabilities aren’t intended to replace “a world-class designer” but to remove the repetitive, low-value work that slows creative teams. Field framed the tools as both “lowering the floor” (making basic design more accessible to non-experts) and “raising the ceiling” (enabling experienced designers to do more ambitious work). He stressed reliability as critical — even tiny tasks like adjusting spacing must be executed perfectly or users will lose faith — and positioned AI as a productivity amplifier rather than a creative substitute. For the AI/ML community this underscores two practical priorities: precision and seamless human-AI interaction. Figma’s use cases highlight the need for models that can reliably manipulate structured design artifacts (layout, spacing, styles) and integrate into iterative workflows where designers provide high-level intent and the AI performs exacting edits. The announcement also signals market validation — Figma recently had a blockbuster IPO and is investing in tools to democratize design — and aligns with broader industry views (eg. Canva) that generative tools should free designers for higher-value, judgment-driven work rather than supplant creative leadership.