Every SaaS product wants an AI copilot now. But most implementations feel bolted-on. Here's how to build copilots that genuinely improve user productivity.
Start With the Workflow
Don't start with 'let's add a chatbot.' Start with 'what's the most painful part of our user's workflow?' Then design an AI interaction that specifically addresses that pain.
Context is Everything
The best copilots have deep context about what the user is doing. Feed the AI the current document, recent actions, and user preferences. Generic responses are worse than no AI at all.
Progressive Disclosure
Don't dump AI features everywhere. Start with subtle suggestions, then let power users opt into deeper AI assistance. The copilot should feel like a natural extension, not an interruption.
Latency Budget
Users expect AI responses in under 2 seconds for inline suggestions. Use streaming responses, edge caching, and model optimization to hit this target consistently.