Take a breath. Figma CEO Dylan Field, at least, doesn’t think AI is coming for anyone’s job.
“I think it’s pretty encouraging that folks understand, viscerally, that this is not coming for you,” he said Thursday on Lenny’s podcast.
He pointed to a survey Figma published in September that surveyed 1,199 participants, including designers, product managers, developers, researchers, data specialists, and marketers. Almost 60% of product builders said they spend more time on high-value work as a result of AI. Almost 70% said they’re “more productive or efficient overall.”
Instead of worrying, Field said workers should focus on how they’ll adapt as AI tools and models advance.
The San Francisco-based tech company builds tools for designing websites, apps, and other digital products. Field co-founded Figma in 2012 with his Brown University classmate, Evan Wallace. The company went public in July in a blockbuster IPO. It now has a market capitalization of nearly $30 billion.
Figma has more than 1,600 employees, and Field said the company is only adding roles. While it’s exploring how AI can improve efficiency and cut costs, Field said he’s more interested in conversations about how the technology can unlock new opportunities for growth.
“You can see it as a path for you to learn and grow, and explore the world and human consciousness,” he said.
It’s not the first time Field has said that AI is meant to augment human work, not replace it.
“There’s a need for designers to lead the charge, and AI will only get you so far,” he said on the Rapid Response podcast earlier this month. “But the drudgery, how do we remove that from the design process? How do we give more access to more people?”
