Story
When I start using an AI tool, I want it to ask me only the 1 or 2 things it truly needs, and show me what it set, so its first answers fit me and I can change them later.
Mei, a secondary-school science teacher in Manchester, setting up a lesson planning helper on her tablet.
- 01 Setting
Mei opens a new lesson planning helper the school has bought.
- 02 Trigger
"2 questions · about 20 seconds." She taps Start.
- 03 Without it
A form of 8 fields. She fills 2, skips, and the first lesson plan is written for young children.
- 04 With it
She taps Science, Year 9, then Lesson plans. A card says what it set, with Change.
- 05 Outcome
She taps the first starter and gets a Year 9 plan she can use next week.
Live demo
This demo follows a script, so it plays the same every time - there is no real AI behind it. Change a setting to see the same moment play out differently.
What happens, step by step
| State | The person sees | The AI is | When | Screen reader |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How long it takes - "2 questions · about 20 seconds" - with Start and Skip. | Idle. | first open | - |
| 2 | 1 question, why it is asked, and answers to tap. No typing. | Idle. | - | “Question 1 of 2” |
| 3 | The second question, with the answers so far in a chip. | Idle. | - | “Question 2 of 2” |
| 4 | "Setting up for Year 9 science" - the answers, in its words. | Applies the answers. | about 1 s | “Setting up” |
| 5 | A card: Science · Year 9 · lesson plans first, with Change. Starter ideas that fit. | Idle. | when ready | “Set up for Year 9 science” |
| 6 | She taps a starter made for her answers. | Idle. | - | - |
| 7 | An answer at the right level, the first time. | Writes. | - | “Generating a response” |
On each device
- phone
- 1 question per screen, answers as large chips, Skip always in the same corner. The keyboard never opens.
- tablet
- As on the phone, with room for both answer rows on 1 screen.
- desktop
- The questions can sit in the empty chat as 1 card, instead of full screens. Then people can see the tool behind them.
When to use it
- Good answers depend on 1 or 2 facts the AI cannot guess - a role, a level, a goal.
- The same facts matter for most asks, so asking once saves asking every time.
- People can answer by tapping, in under 30 seconds.
- The AI can learn the fact from the first ask - ask then, in the moment, not up front.
- People only need to know what the tool does, not set it up. Use Capability disclosure instead.
- The facts are personal and change often - let people manage what the AI remembers. Use Memory controls instead.
The parts of the pattern
- AProgress"2 of 2" - people see the end from the start.
- BQuestion and why1 question, and 1 line on what the answer changes.
- CTap answersChips, not text fields. 1 tap each. An Other chip for the rest.
- DSkipAlways there. Skipping gives sensible defaults (settings the tool picks for you), not a broken tool.
- ESo farThe answers given, in 1 chip, so people can check them as they go.
Do and Avoid
2 of 2
What do you want help with first?
Lesson plans · Quizzes · Feedback
Skip
2 of 8 · about 3 minutes
Name · Subject · School · Year groups
Exam board · Class sizes
Teaching style · Favourite topics
✓ Set up for you
Science · Year 9 · lesson plans first
Change
All set!
Ask anything
Writing and accessibility
- Say the cost first: "2 questions · about 20 seconds".
- Under each question, say what the answer changes: "So examples match your subject and class."
- Write answers as short chips in people's words. Add an Other chip.
- Play the answers back plainly: "Set up for you: Science · Year 9 · lesson plans first".
- Each question is a group with a label. The chips are radio buttons, or toggle buttons that tell screen readers whether they are on (with aria-pressed).
- Announce progress when a question appears: "Question 2 of 2".
- Skip is a real button with the same name on every screen, reachable before the answers in tab order.
- Never time out a question. People who use switch access (1 or 2 buttons instead of a keyboard) or a screen reader may take longer.
Seen in real products
- Microsoft 365 CopilotCopilot app, web and Teams · Oct 2026Onboarding asks people to describe their role, industry and main tasks, and to choose Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced. Copilot then suggests use cases for that role.Microsoft Support: Complete Copilot onboarding ↗
- Microsoft NewsWeb · Jul 2020First-time visitors pick their interests, so the news feed is personal from the first visit.Microsoft HAX Toolkit example (screenshot from Jul 2020) ↗
Each example comes from the product’s help pages, release notes or teardowns, with the month it was checked. Products change every month - tell us when 1 is out of date.
Check yourself
Seen this pattern done better, or a product that changed? Press Suggest next to any heading, or tell us about the whole page.