Adam Smith of Tension – Navigating AI Disruption and Leading The Unknown

Adam Smith of Tension – Navigating AI Disruption and Leading The Unknown

From Badass Agile by Fuse Chamber, Inc

February 25, 2026 · 51 min

About this episode

Adam Smith discusses the impact of AI on UX/UI and the importance of human experience in navigating disruption.

Welcome back Adam Smith, founder of Tension, a Toronto-based user experience firm. It’s been about a year since our last conversation, and Adam Smith’s journey through the rise of AI, the shifting value of UX/UI, and the broader changes across creative and knowledge industries made us reflect more deeply on what we actually do —and how we define ourselves. Adam describes how AI has drastically reduced the manual “effort hours” that once drove the bottom line in UX/UI work. Yet he insists that the real differentiator comes from human experience, intuition, and the scars earned from tackling messy problems. AI can prototype quickly, but it can’t replicate the nuanced understanding that comes from his decades in the industry. Later in the episode, we get to the good stuff. Everyone, regardless of their job title, must face disruption head-on. You can’t wait for the new normal. The burden is on US to lead, question assumptions, and carve opportunities out of the unknown. Adam shares his own methods, including writing as a vehicle for self-discovery. He uses writing to process uncertainty, consider his audience, and reinforce the value of authenticity and…

People in this episode

Host: Fuse Chamber, Inc

Guest: Adam Smith

Topics covered

  • AI disruption
  • user experience
  • UX/UI
  • entrepreneurship
  • self-discovery
  • authenticity

Keywords

  • AI
  • user experience
  • UX/UI
  • entrepreneurship
  • self-discovery
  • authenticity
  • disruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Tension

Places: Toronto

More episodes of Badass Agile

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Badass Agile podcast page.