How to recognize it in the interface
01
Every reply ends with “Want me to…?”
Not this pattern: one suggested next step, or follow-ups you can turn off.
Same moment, different copy (illustrative example)
Before
“Done! Want me to write a follow-up email too?”
Shows the pattern
After
“Done. Here is your summary.”
The fair alternative
Design guideline
Stops when your task is done.
Do
Stops when your task is done.
Don’t
Don’t end every reply with a new offer.
Sources
01
Gray et al., 2018. The Dark (Patterns) Side of UX Design. CHI 2018. doi.org ↗
02
European Union, 2022. Digital Services Act, Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, Article 25 (online interface design and organisation). eur-lex.europa.eu ↗
03
OECD, 2022. Dark commercial patterns. OECD Digital Economy Papers No. 336. doi.org ↗
04
Joshi, Luria and Adjagbodjou (Center for Democracy and Technology), 2026. Dark Patterns in AI Chatbots: A Taxonomy to Inform Better Design. cdt.org ↗