Having spent over 13 years helping technology teams understand the people they serve Eric Morrison of New York City is a User Experience Research Lead, who has guided research for companies like Google, TikTok, and Disney. His work focuses on ensuring that even the most ambitious AI tools are grounded in a clear understanding of human needs.
“I’ve always been fascinated by the underlying mechanics of how people adopt new tools,” Eric says. “My goal isn’t just to observe behavior, but to decode the specific sequences that lead to a successful product launch.”
Currently, Eric leads research at Google on the future of AI in the workplace. A core tenet of his work is that AI should enhance creativity and collaboration rather than replace human effort. “AI should amplify what people can do,” he explains. “It’s about making work more human, not less.”
Eric’s path to UX leadership began with a curiosity about people and culture. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Yale University, where he received the prestigious John Addison Porter Prize, followed by a Master of Science in the Social Science of the Internet from the University of Oxford.
“History and the social sciences give me a unique approach to UX research,” Eric notes. “I believe that even the most complex outcomes — say, for example: building a novel innovation, or driving viral adoption of a product — can be broken down into foundational processes that can be replicated.”
While many view innovation as lightning in a bottle, Eric views it as a social science problem to be solved. His academic background taught him to analyze the structural forces behind events, a skill he now applies to product ecosystems.
One of Eric’s key strengths is operationalizing this philosophy. He uses a combination of methods including interviews, surveys, and ethnographic studies not just to gather data, but to identify the replicable patterns that drive successful outcomes.
“Too often, product decisions are based on assumptions or one-off successes,” he says. “Our job is to find the repeatable formula. If we understand the fundamental process of why a user finds value, we can engineer that success again and again.”
For example, while working on a collaboration tool, Eric’s team discovered that adoption stalled not due to usability, but because the tool didn’t fit the social dynamics of the teams using it. By isolating this foundational process—how teams negotiate trust—they redesigned the tool to align with human workflow, resulting in a successful relaunch.
At Google, Eric is at the forefront of research into AI applications for workplace productivity. He studies how AI can support teams, spark creativity, and reduce repetitive tasks. “AI is powerful, but it has to be responsible,” he says. “It should enhance human work, not take it over.”
He emphasizes transparency and ethical design in all AI projects. “Users need to trust AI systems,” Eric explains. “If people don’t understand what the technology is doing, they won’t use it effectively.”
Eric’s approach blends quantitative data with qualitative insights. Numbers tell one part of the story, but real human behavior provides the context. “Metrics like clicks or time spent are useful,” he says, “but they don’t explain the ‘why.’ That’s where the historian’s eye for context comes in.”
This combination allows him to guide teams toward solutions that are not only technically sound but also human-centered. “When research informs design, everyone wins,” he notes. “Users get tools that work for them, and companies make smarter decisions.”
When he is not leading research projects, Eric enjoys life in New York City, where he currently lives. The city’s energy and diversity continue to inspire him both personally and professionally. “Living in New York keeps me curious,” he says. “It’s a place where I can observe people and learn from so many different experiences.”
Eric Morrison’s career illustrates how a deep understanding of social mechanics can guide the development of smarter, more ethical technology. He continues to push the boundaries of UX and AI, always keeping the human experience at the center.
“My goal is simple,” he says. “I want to prove that innovation isn’t magic. It’s a process. And if research can map that process, we can help people create, collaborate, and thrive more consistently.”
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Eric Morrison: Deconstructing Success in UX and AI
