The Silent Waiting Game: How UX Designers Can Turn AI Latency Into Opportunity

In the age of real‑time language models, the moment a user submits a prompt and the interface remains still is a silent, high‑stakes pause. A recent discussion on Hacker News (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46178920) asked developers and designers: What do you do while you wait for an AI response? and What would you like to be able to do during that time? The answers paint a clear picture of user expectations and highlight design gaps that can be leveraged to improve engagement.

What Users Do While They Wait

The thread’s respondents reported a mix of passive and active behaviors:

  • Checking email or other tabs – Users often glance at their inbox or open a new tab, indicating that the waiting period feels like a free time slot.
  • Scrolling through HN or other feeds – The act of scrolling suggests that users are looking for something to occupy the moment, rather than feeling a sense of progress.
  • Zoning out or disengaging – A significant number admitted to losing focus entirely, which can translate into a perception that the AI is slow or unreliable.

These habits reveal a simple truth: users are not content to sit idle. The interface must communicate that the system is actively working and provide meaningful ways to stay engaged.

Desired Features During the Wait

Participants also asked what they would like to see while the AI processes a request. The most common themes were:

  1. Quick actions – Buttons or shortcuts that let users tweak the prompt, add clarifications, or cancel the request without leaving the waiting screen.
  2. Useful hints – Contextual tips about how to phrase prompts for better results, or suggestions for related queries.
  3. Better progress indicators – Clear visual cues that show how far along the model is, whether the delay is due to GPU queuing, data fetching, or model inference.
  4. Micro‑interactions – Small animations or sound cues that reassure users the system is alive and responsive.

These desires point to a broader design objective: turn latency into an interactive experience, not a passive wait.

Product Examples – Good and Bad

Well‑Handled Waiting

  • ChatGPT (OpenAI) – The new UI shows a “Thinking…” spinner and a subtle progress bar when the model is generating a response. Users can also view a preview of the partial output, which keeps them engaged.
  • Google Bard – Bard displays a loading animation that includes a subtle progress tick, and offers a “Try again” button if the response takes too long.
  • Microsoft Copilot – In Office apps, the Copilot panel shows a real‑time progress bar and allows users to cancel or modify the request on the fly.

Poorly Handled Waiting

  • Early versions of chatbots – Many older AI chat interfaces offered a static “Loading” text with no indication of progress, leading to user frustration.
  • Some internal tools – A few enterprise AI tools displayed no feedback at all, causing developers to assume the request had failed and re‑submit.

The contrast underscores that progress feedback is not just a nicety; it is a necessity for trust and usability.

Design Principles for AI Waiting UX

  1. Always Show Something – Even a simple spinner or progress bar communicates that the system is working.
  2. Make the Wait Interactive – Offer actionable buttons (e.g., “Edit Prompt”, “Cancel”, “Show Tips”) so users can stay engaged.
  3. Provide Contextual Hints – When the model is busy, display short, relevant suggestions for refining prompts or exploring related content.
  4. Use Micro‑Feedback – Small animations or sound cues can reassure users that the AI is alive, especially during longer waits.
  5. Communicate Time Estimates – If possible, show an estimated wait time or a progress percentage to set expectations.

By integrating these principles, designers can transform the silent pause into a productive, engaging part of the user journey.

Why It Matters

Latency is an inevitable part of AI inference, but the way it is presented can dramatically affect user perception. A well‑designed waiting experience can reduce anxiety, keep users on task, and ultimately increase satisfaction and retention. For developers building conversational agents, paying attention to the waiting UX is as important as tuning the model’s accuracy.

“When you’re waiting for a response, the interface should feel alive, not empty.” – Anonymous HN participant

The conversation on Hacker News reminds us that user experience during latency is a shared challenge across the industry. By listening to what users do and want while they wait, designers can create AI products that feel responsive, reliable, and engaging.

Source: Hacker News discussion https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46178920