Koule is our new project, aimed at changing the way people consume media. It is based on reducing content and using generative AI to offer readers news tailored exactly to them, without the information clutter. The pilot version was created in the R&D team according to the Double Diamond framework, based on user research and prototype testing.
Understanding user needs is more valuable than diamonds
We started the Koule project in autumn 2023 with the idea of a medium that would help save time and attention thanks to AI. The name comes from the Koule.cz domain, which CNC has long owned. From the very beginning we followed the Double Diamond design process. This method helps map user needs precisely and turn them into a product that effectively addresses those needs. In the first phase, known as “discovery”, we conducted dozens of in-depth interviews, mainly with Gen Z and younger users, supplemented by older respondents for a broader perspective. We looked for so-called pain points that people actually struggle with when consuming online content. It turned out that a strong theme was information overload and the fear of missing something important (so-called FOMO).
Pro tip: put a prototype in users’ hands
In the “define” phase we grouped all the collected material into seven possible directions in which the product could develop. In the next phase we used Figma to prepare prototypes and tested them with real users. The aim was to reduce as much as possible the risk of building something nobody wants or that does not work. Based on the findings, we drew up a product map and set the priorities of features, from “absolutely necessary” to “nice to have”.
Use of AI
The idea for Koule came about thanks to the possibilities offered by generative AI. Large language models can not only create content but also efficiently process and shorten existing content. Automatic summarisation is therefore key to Koule: the system scans the content of CNC’s news and lifestyle websites, selects relevant articles based on user preferences, and converts them into short “digest” news items. The biggest challenge was tuning the prompting so that the summaries keep the right tone and context and avoid unnecessary “hallucinations”.
Fighting information obesity
Koule delivers readers a triple daily dose of news: at 7 am, 1 pm and 7 pm. Its mission is to swap information clutter for selected context and resolve the overload that many of us suffer from. We are currently in the beta test phase at beta.koule.cz. All product decisions continue to be built on the original user research and on processes derived from Double Diamond. We are now gradually applying the same methodology in other innovation projects at CNC.
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