What should the icon for AI be?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing our lives in ways that seemed like science fiction just a few years ago. From virtual assistants that help us with everyday tasks to algorithms that improve healthcare, AI is everywhere. But have you ever wondered how we can visually represent this complex technology? What icon could convey its essence? In this article, we look at various ideas and suggestions for searching the perfect symbol to represent artificial intelligence.

The AI ​​community has recently been involved in an interesting competition to determine the best icon to represent the technology. Companies like Apple, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta are all racing to find a symbol that would suggest AI to users. Apple, for example, has chosen a circular design consisting of seven loops to represent its AI technology. This new Siri icon, powered by Apple Intelligence, has sparked debate about how AI should be visualized.

The reality is that no one knows exactly what AI looks like or should look like. This technology performs many tasks, but has no defined physical form. However, it is crucial to represent this in user interfaces so that people know they are interacting with a machine learning model. Approaches to depicting this omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent intelligence vary, but generally the icon should be non-threatening, abstract, relatively simple, and non-anthropomorphic.

Historically, the first symbols of AI were small robots, wizard hats, or wands, which are now considered outdated. Robots suggest inhumanity, rigidity, and limitations, while magic symbols imply irrationality and mystery. These connotations do not fit with the modern perception of AI, which seeks to convey trust, efficiency, and precision.

Corporate logo design for artificial intelligence reflects a combination of creative vision, business needs, and committee commitment. An example of a strong vision is OpenAI’s new icon, a black dot that symbolizes a wishing well or echo cave where users ask their questions. It will soon be seen on desktop and mobile apps, though the web version doesn’t appear to use it yet. Microsoft, on the other hand, has taken a more generic approach with its Copilot logo, which is less visible but serves its purpose.

When looking at logos from different companies, we notice a pattern in the use of soft and pleasant colors. Apple, Google, Meta, and others have chosen pastel colors and soft gradients that suggest approachability and friendliness. Often associated with feminine or childlike designs, these colors create a sense of openness and uncertain potential. For example, the Perplexity logo is an endless book, while the Google logo is a welcoming, symmetrical four-pointed star.

The main goal of these projects is to create a friendly and approachable image of AI, avoiding connotations of coldness, rigidity, or threat. However, despite careful attention to design, there is still no icon that clearly communicates to users about artificial intelligence. Instead of accurately defining AI, these logos often point to what the interface is not: it is not an email, a search engine, or a note-taking app.

In comparison, the email, send message, and settings icons are more intuitive and universal. The envelope symbolizes email, the paper airplane suggests sending messages, and the gear or wrench symbolizes change. These icons have clear and recognizable meanings across cultures and languages.

Instead, AI remains a relatively new technology for many consumers who are still discovering its potential and limitations. Companies avoid strictly defining it, preferring to maintain an image of inexhaustible possibilities. This approach is reflected in the names and logos of various AI products, which vary widely in their ability to evoke artificial intelligence.

Apple, for example, uses multiple logos for its artificial intelligence, such as Siri and Apple Intelligence, and plays with colors and visuals to indicate the presence of this technology on its devices. This diversity reflects uncertainty and experimentation in visual representation.

Until AI is better defined and understood, the symbols that represent it will likely remain vague, nonthreatening, abstract shapes. A colorful, ever-changing symbol may not be a definitive representation, but it helps soften the perception of a technology that, while powerful, is not meant to be frightening.

When searching for the perfect AI icon, companies would be wise to ask users directly about their visual perceptions. Not only can this lead to a more intuitive and effective design, but it also ensures that the icon accurately conveys the capabilities and benefits of the technology.

From my perspective, I imagine an icon that combines a brain and a light bulb, symbolizing intelligence and the emergence of ideas, the fundamental elements of today’s AI. However, the possibilities are endless. Ultimately, the search for the perfect icon for AI will continue, and who knows what the final symbol that identifies it will be.