I often get asked about the choice of colors I use for slide decks that cover AI and I go down this rabbit hole of explaining AI color palette that is now a norm for industry. In this brief, lets get to the colors that tell your user that they are in the AI realm. Source: Excerpt from my deck that covers best grounding preference for RAG in Azure

The Effect Colors have on your users

Having worked in passionate Product & Design teams in the past, good product design focuses on observing human responses during the entire product journey. One of those aspects that we spent considerable time on was theming as it significantly influences emotional responses of the users. Here are are some angles on how colors can cause a desired response:

• Psychological Impact of Colors: Colors significantly influence emotional responses to products. Studies indicate that colors with high saturation tend to convey strength and positivity. Blue and green hues are commonly associated with reliability and competence, making them popular choices for technology and health-related brands. In contrast, red evokes excitement and urgency, often used for action-driven products or promotions.❞
• Color Theory and Accessibility: For designers, understanding the color wheel is fundamental to creating palettes that are visually harmonious and memorable. Complementary colors, monochromatic schemes, and analogous colors each offer distinct visual impacts. Accessibility also plays a crucial role, with the need to consider users with color vision deficiencies, ensuring sufficient contrast and readability for all users.❞
• Brand Identity and User Demographics: Matching color palettes with the brand’s identity and target audience is essential. For instance, blue shades communicate tranquility and intelligence, while yellow represents energy and optimism. When designing for specific demographics, like younger audiences, vibrant and contrasting colors may be more effective, whereas established brands may prefer subdued, consistent palettes to reflect stability.❞❞

New to color theory and color wheel, take a look at this short summary by canva

Choice of Colors for AI Products

AI product color gradients often use vibrant, multi-tone transitions that convey energy, innovation, and futurism. Common gradient combinations include:

• Blue to Purple/Pink Gradients: This is a popular choice due to the association of blue with trust and purple with creativity. The gradient from blue to purple to pink creates a modern, dynamic look, emphasizing the tech-forward and creative aspects of AI. This gradient as branding signals a blend of reliability and innovation.
• Neon and Fluorescent Colors: Many AI and tech products, particularly those focused on younger or tech-savvy audiences, employ bold, fluorescent gradients that include electric blues, greens, and pinks. This gives a “neon glow” effect that is visually striking and conveys cutting-edge technology.
• Soft Pastel Gradients: For AI products that aim to feel approachable, gradients with soft pastels (such as peach to light pink or mint to soft blue) are increasingly popular. These gradients create a calming, friendly appearance, aligning well with AI solutions focused on accessibility, wellness, or consumer applications.
• Multi-Hue Gradients: Some AI brands, particularly those in creative fields, use complex, multi-hue gradients, often incorporating a spectrum of colors (like red-orange-purple or green-blue-purple). These vibrant transitions convey inclusivity, innovation, and versatility, suitable for applications in creative industries or AI tools that span multiple functions.

The Industry's favorite

Gloss over some of the logos that you often look at when you are consuming AI products or building upon one. Illustration: Top AI products in use from Apple Intelligence to Model Providers and Cloud Providers

Notice any pattern? Other than OpenAI which is supposed to reflect optimism and burst of intelligence its predominantly Blue to Purple/Pink Gradients.

Now you know when you request my services and I show up with the colorful blue to purple gradient slides, its a subtle hint that you are entering the AI realm. 😊