---
name: ai-native-ui
description: Web and App implementation guide for AI Native UI. Trigger when user wants conversational interfaces, adaptive layouts, and generative AI aesthetics.
date_added: "2026-06-17"
risk: safe
source: self
source_type: self
---

# AI Native UI

> "Fluid, adaptive, and conversational. The interface morphs to serve the content."


## When to Use
Use this sub-style when the user's request matches the aesthetic described above. This is a child reference of the `design-it` skill and is not meant to be triggered directly.

## Core Principles
1. **Conversational First**: The chat input or voice prompt is the primary navigation method, not a sidebar of links.
2. **Generative States**: Loading states aren't spinners; they are shimmering text, morphing gradients, or skeletal layouts that resolve smoothly into content.
3. **Adaptive Components**: Cards and blocks size themselves dynamically based on the generated content length.

## Visual DNA
- **Colors**: **Minimalist Slate** combined with a custom indigo or neon accent gradient (these are descriptions, not additional bundled palettes) for the AI elements. The background is clean (white or dark grey), while the AI "presence" is represented by a shifting, iridescent gradient.
- **Typography**: Highly readable system fonts (`Inter`, `SF Pro`).
- **Styling**: Subtle glowing borders to indicate AI generation in progress.

## Web Implementation
- **CSS Example**:
```css
body {
  background-color: #FAFAFA;
  color: #1A1A1A;
  font-family: 'Inter', sans-serif;
}

/* The AI Chat Input */
.ai-prompt-box {
  background: #ffffff;
  border-radius: 24px;
  padding: 16px 24px;
  box-shadow: 0 8px 30px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
  border: 1px solid transparent;
  
  /* AI Glow Border */
  background-clip: padding-box, border-box;
  background-origin: padding-box, border-box;
  background-image: 
    linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff), 
    linear-gradient(90deg, #8A2387, #E94057, #F27121);
    
  transition: all 0.3s ease;
}

.ai-prompt-box:focus-within {
  box-shadow: 0 12px 40px rgba(233, 64, 87, 0.15);
}

/* Generative Shimmer Text */
.ai-generating-text {
  background: linear-gradient(90deg, #aaa 0%, #333 50%, #aaa 100%);
  background-size: 200% auto;
  color: transparent;
  -webkit-background-clip: text;
  animation: shine 1.5s linear infinite;
}

@keyframes shine {
  to { background-position: 200% center; }
}
```

## App Implementation

### SwiftUI
```swift
struct AINativeInput: View {
    @State private var isGenerating = true
    @State private var gradientOffset = 0.0
    @State private var prompt = ""
    
    var body: some View {
        VStack {
            // Generative Text Shimmer
            if isGenerating {
                Text("Synthesizing response...")
                    .font(.headline)
                    .foregroundStyle(
                        LinearGradient(
                            colors: [.gray.opacity(0.3), .gray, .gray.opacity(0.3)],
                            startPoint: UnitPoint(x: gradientOffset - 1, y: 0),
                            endPoint: UnitPoint(x: gradientOffset + 1, y: 0)
                        )
                    )
                    .onAppear {
                        withAnimation(.linear(duration: 1.5).repeatForever(autoreverses: false)) {
                            gradientOffset = 1.0
                        }
                    }
            }
            
            // AI Input Box
            HStack {
                TextField("Ask anything...", text: $prompt)
                Image(systemName: "sparkles")
                    .foregroundColor(.purple)
            }
            .padding()
            .background(Color.white)
            .cornerRadius(24)
            .overlay(
                RoundedRectangle(cornerRadius: 24)
                    .stroke(
                        LinearGradient(colors: [.purple, .pink, .orange], startPoint: .topLeading, endPoint: .bottomTrailing),
                        lineWidth: 2
                    )
            )
            .shadow(color: .pink.opacity(0.15), radius: 20)
        }
        .padding()
    }
}
```
- A shifting `LinearGradient` mask over text creates a beautiful "thinking" state.
- Use a gradient `.stroke` on a `RoundedRectangle` overlay to create the signature AI glowing border around input fields.

### Flutter
```dart
import 'package:shimmer/shimmer.dart';

class AINativeInput extends StatelessWidget {
  @override
  Widget build(BuildContext context) {
    return Padding(
      padding: const EdgeInsets.all(16.0),
      child: Column(
        mainAxisSize: MainAxisSize.min,
        children: [
          // Generative Shimmer
          Shimmer.fromColors(
            baseColor: Colors.grey[300]!,
            highlightColor: Colors.grey[600]!,
            child: const Text('Synthesizing response...',
                style: TextStyle(fontSize: 16, fontWeight: FontWeight.bold)),
          ),
          const SizedBox(height: 16),
          // AI Input Box
          Container(
            decoration: BoxDecoration(
              color: Colors.white,
              borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(24),
              boxShadow: [
                BoxShadow(color: Colors.pink.withOpacity(0.15), blurRadius: 20),
              ],
            ),
            child: Container(
              decoration: BoxDecoration(
                borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(24),
                // Gradient border simulation
                gradient: const LinearGradient(
                  colors: [Colors.purple, Colors.pink, Colors.orange],
                ),
              ),
              padding: const EdgeInsets.all(2), // Border width
              child: Container(
                decoration: BoxDecoration(
                  color: Colors.white,
                  borderRadius: BorderRadius.circular(22),
                ),
                padding: const EdgeInsets.symmetric(horizontal: 16, vertical: 4),
                child: Row(
                  children: const [
                    Expanded(
                      child: TextField(
                        decoration: InputDecoration(
                          hintText: 'Ask anything...',
                          border: InputBorder.none,
                        ),
                      ),
                    ),
                    Icon(Icons.auto_awesome, color: Colors.purple),
                  ],
                ),
              ),
            ),
          ),
        ],
      ),
    );
  }
}
```
- The `shimmer` package is the absolute standard for AI loading states in Flutter.
- Gradient borders natively don't exist on `BoxDecoration`; simulate them by nesting containers with a gradient background and a solid white inner container.

### React Native
```jsx
// Requires react-native-linear-gradient and react-native-shimmer-placeholder
import LinearGradient from 'react-native-linear-gradient';
import { createShimmerPlaceholder } from 'react-native-shimmer-placeholder';

const ShimmerPlaceHolder = createShimmerPlaceholder(LinearGradient);

const AINativeInput = () => {
  return (
    <View style={{ padding: 16 }}>
      {/* Generative Shimmer */}
      <ShimmerPlaceHolder 
        style={{ width: 200, height: 20, borderRadius: 10, marginBottom: 16 }}
        shimmerColors={['#ebebeb', '#c5c5c5', '#ebebeb']}
      />
      
      {/* AI Input Box with Gradient Border */}
      <LinearGradient
        colors={['#8A2387', '#E94057', '#F27121']}
        style={{ borderRadius: 24, padding: 2, shadowColor: '#E94057', shadowRadius: 20, shadowOpacity: 0.2 }}
      >
        <View style={{ 
          backgroundColor: '#FFF', 
          borderRadius: 22, 
          flexDirection: 'row', 
          alignItems: 'center',
          paddingHorizontal: 16,
          height: 50
        }}>
          <TextInput 
            placeholder="Ask anything..." 
            style={{ flex: 1, fontSize: 16 }} 
          />
          <Text style={{ fontSize: 20 }}>✨</Text>
        </View>
      </LinearGradient>
    </View>
  );
};
```
- `react-native-shimmer-placeholder` is the best way to handle the morphing skeleton states.
- Like Flutter, React Native doesn't have native gradient borders. Wrap the input in a `LinearGradient` view with `padding: 2` to create the stroke.

### Jetpack Compose
```kotlin
@Composable
fun AINativeInput() {
    var prompt by remember { mutableStateOf("") }
    val infiniteTransition = rememberInfiniteTransition()
    val gradientOffset by infiniteTransition.animateFloat(
        initialValue = 0f,
        targetValue = 1000f,
        animationSpec = infiniteRepeatable(
            animation = tween(1500, easing = LinearEasing),
            repeatMode = RepeatMode.Restart
        )
    )

    Column(modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp)) {
        // Generative Shimmer Text
        val shimmerBrush = Brush.linearGradient(
            colors = listOf(Color.LightGray, Color.Gray, Color.LightGray),
            start = Offset(gradientOffset - 500f, 0f),
            end = Offset(gradientOffset, 0f)
        )
        Text("Synthesizing response...", style = TextStyle(brush = shimmerBrush, fontWeight = FontWeight.Bold))
        
        Spacer(Modifier.height(16.dp))
        
        // AI Input Box
        val borderBrush = Brush.linearGradient(listOf(Color(0xFF8A2387), Color(0xFFE94057), Color(0xFFF27121)))
        
        Row(
            modifier = Modifier
                .shadow(20.dp, RoundedCornerShape(24.dp), ambientColor = Color(0xFFE94057), spotColor = Color(0xFFE94057))
                .background(Color.White, RoundedCornerShape(24.dp))
                .border(2.dp, borderBrush, RoundedCornerShape(24.dp))
                .padding(horizontal = 16.dp, vertical = 12.dp),
            verticalAlignment = Alignment.CenterVertically
        ) {
            BasicTextField(
                value = prompt,
                onValueChange = { prompt = it },
                modifier = Modifier.weight(1f),
                decorationBox = { innerTextField ->
                    Box {
                        if (prompt.isEmpty()) Text("Ask anything...", color = Color.Gray)
                        innerTextField()
                    }
                }
            )
            Icon(Icons.Default.Star, contentDescription = null, tint = Color(0xFF8A2387))
        }
    }
}
```
- Compose allows passing a `Brush` directly into the `TextStyle`, making shimmering text incredibly easy without third-party libraries.
- Compose's `Modifier.border()` natively accepts a `Brush`, making gradient borders a one-liner.

## Do's and Don'ts
- **DO**: Use a distinct, vibrant gradient to represent the AI "agent", contrasting with a very plain, clean background.
- **DON'T**: Make chat the only route to navigation or destructive actions. Keep discoverable, keyboard-accessible controls and explicit confirmation where the task requires it.

## Limitations
- This is a styling reference and does not replace environment-specific validation, accessibility testing, or expert review.
- Ensure appropriate contrast ratios and responsive behaviors are verified separately.