We’re exploring the intersection of video games, emerging technologies, and product team KPIs with Kristie J. Fisher, PhD, the Sr. Director of Global User Research, PlayStation Studios.
In episode 18 we explore Kristie’s experience at Playstation, Google, and Xbox and dive into how teams can build more engaging AI product experiences:
➮ Similarities, differences, and key learnings of working in games and big tech
➮ How insights teams should be structured to ensure they’re delivering impact
➮ How to create immersive experiences by creating KPIs for joy and delight
➮ The benefits of AI to researchers and how AI is transforming games

03:11 Diving into Video Games and AI Research
04:35 The Overlooked Potential of Video Games in Tech
05:00 Challenges and Joys of Gaming Research
08:18 Pride in Leading PlayStation's Research Team
08:41 The Evolution of User Research in Gaming
17:22 The Importance of Live Testing in Gaming
25:12 Balancing Fun and Functionality in Tech Products
35:10 The Value of Integrated Insights in Organizations
36:36 The Future of AI in User Research
48:22 Conclusion: The Importance of Joy in Tech Products

Kristie J. Fisher, PhD, has spent the last 15 years conducting user experience research and building and leading research teams across a variety of product domains, primarily in gaming. She currently leads the global PlayStation Studios User Research team. The mission of her team is to empower PlayStation's Studios to get to great faster by being vision-led and data informed. At Google she worked on Stadia, Gmail, and Ads and was a co-author of Google's People + AI Research Guidebook. Prior to Google she was at Xbox Research, collaborating with game producers and development teams to improve player experience on Xbox, Xbox Kinect, and Windows.

A cognitive psychologist by training, her research interests center on gaming, human-computer interaction in the context of AI, and human learning and problem solving more broadly. As a leader she focuses on creating a culture of psychological safety and building systems to maximize the impact of research.
Follow her on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristie-j-fisher-phd-2216a764


The episode is hosted by:
Arpy Dragffy Guerrero (Founder & Head of product strategy, PH1 Research) https://www.linkedin.com/in/adragffy/
Brittany Hobbs (VP Insights, Huge) https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittanyhobbs/
Thank you for listening to the Design of AI podcast. We interview leaders and practitioners at the forefront of AI. If you like this episode please remember to leave a rating and to follow us on your favorite podcast app.
Take part in the conversations about AI https://www.linkedin.com/company/designofai/

And subscribe to our newsletter for additional resources https://designofai.substack.com/