Cognitive Load
The total amount of mental effort being used in the working memory, considered in AI to design systems that do not overwhelm users.
Definition
In human–AI interaction design, reducing cognitive load means presenting recommendations, explanations, and controls in digestible formats—chunking information, prioritizing critical alerts, and avoiding jargon. High cognitive load can lead to user errors, decision fatigue, and non-adoption of AI tools. Governance guidelines often include UX-testing requirements to validate cognitive load.
Real-World Example
A clinical-decision-support dashboard was too dense, showing dozens of metrics. Usability testing revealed that physicians missed critical alerts. The team simplified the interface to three prioritized alerts with color-coding and drill-downs, reducing cognitive load and improving response times.
.svg)
