Malleable software can profoundly change how users interact with digital content, enabling non-experts to create their own customized tools. However, the practical adoption of GenUI systems faces several barriers, which I unpack in this paper, including a lack of adaptable data formats, "old" security protocols, and gaps in users' cognitive and creative skills for building their own interfaces. I advocate new evaluation strategies and scientific methods to measure the impact of malleable software in user studies, document usage patterns, and ensure their practical adoption.
@article{arxiv.2604.16354,
title = {Hidden Technical Debt in Generative (GenUI) and Malleable User Interfaces},
author = {Besjon Cifliku},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.16354},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
Paper accepted to the Workshop "What Does Generative UI Mean for HCI Practice?'' at CHI 2026 - Barcelona, April 15, 2026