Beyond the "One-Click" Illusion: Designing Data Visualisations with the Human Edge

We live in a "one-click" illusion. Modern AI tools promise easy insights, but removing effort often removes responsibility. While AI can simulate empathy, it cannot carry the consequences of its outputs. This talk explores the hidden risks of automated data tools and explains why our desire for total simplicity is often the problem. In our rush to make everything effortless, we are creating "leaky abstractions" that hide the messy reality of data from the people making decisions.

The core of this session is "The Human Edge." As AI masters the "Genius" of making charts, human value must shift to "Judgment." This is a critical conversation because data tools are increasingly used in high-stakes areas like healthcare and public policy. When a tool makes a guess, but the interface shows a solid, certain line, users lose their ability to question the outcome. I will use "Tesler's Law" to explain that complexity cannot be destroyed; it can only be moved. If we move all complexity away from the user, we also move away from their sense of responsibility.

This topic matters because "automated certainty" is a danger to our communities. In the data visualisation world, we often focus on aesthetics or speed. This talk shifts the focus toward ethics and systems thinking. It connects to the VizChitra mission by showing how the tools we build for "Work" directly impact the "Community."

Intended Audience & Takeaways: This session is designed for designers building AI tools, journalists using automated insights, and leaders deploying data systems. Attendees will leave with a "Futures Wheel" template for mapping consequences and a checklist of UI patterns to help users handle automated uncertainty.